Document information

Physical location:

RB MSS M9, Library, Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne. 72.11.28

Plant names

Preferred Citation:

Robert Fitzgerald to Ferdinand von Mueller, 1872-11-28. R.W. Home, Thomas A. Darragh, A.M. Lucas, Sara Maroske, D.M. Sinkora, J.H. Voigt and Monika Wells (eds), Correspondence of Ferdinand von Mueller, <https://vmcp.rbg.vic.gov.au/id//letters/1870-9/1872/72-11-28-final.odt>, accessed June 13, 2026

1
MS found with a specimen of Phaius sp. (MEL 2153899). Annotation by M: 'Answ 8/12/72 FvM'. Letter not found.
Survey Office
2
Sydney.
28th Novr 72
Dear Sir
I send you by this days steamer, a flower and portion of an opened bud of a Phaius distinct I think from grandifolius and possibly from others (as P Burnaisii?
3
P. Bernaysii? Fitzgerald's question-mark is interlined.
of which I have no description) I obtained the plant at the McLeay river as also P. grandifolius(?)
The points of peculiarity noticed by me are as follow That the flowers are much smaller and do not agree in color. The petals are more acute and appear to remain induplicate. The column is very short and broader than in P grandifolius(?) and is winged. The spur has two very small spurs at the extremity and the flowers stand at right angles to the stem and are always inverted, the labellum being at the top. A peculiarity which gives a very distinct appearance to the spike of flowers
The habits of the plants seems to be much the same, except that (for the one example) the flower stem is not nearly so robust or tall in the new(?) species
Yours truly
Robt D Fitzgerald