The correspondence of Ferdinand von Mueller: 27/1/74. ¶ ¶ Since I last wrote to you, dear Mr Bentham, ¶ M to G. Bentham, 1 January 1874. M was granted a free railway pass toAlbury, NSW; see M to J. Francis, 24 December 1873 (in this edition as ...

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Physical location:

RBG Kew, Kew correspondence, Australia, Mueller, 1871-81, ff. 137-8. 74.01.27

Preferred Citation:

Ferdinand von Mueller to George Bentham, 1874-01-27. 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/1870-9/1874/74-01-27-final.odt>, accessed June 9, 2026

27/1/74.

Since I last wrote to you, dear Mr Bentham,

M to G. Bentham, 1 January 1874. M was granted a free railway pass to Albury, NSW; see M to J. Francis, 24 December 1873 (in this edition as 73-12-24a). He did not leave Melbourne until 6 January 1874; see M to R. Ramsay, August 1874 (in this edition as 74-08-00).

I went out on a short trip to the Australian Alps,

M returned to Melbourne on 26 January; see M to J. Francis, 27 January 1874.

choosing the Hume-River line for approach,

It is uncertain what current name, if any, represents the stream M calls 'Hume-River'; see M to William Branwhite Clarke, 29 January 1874, and notes thereto.

as in 1854 and 1855 I passed to our Snowy Mountains by the Mitta-Mitta & Snowy River. Having been able to go by different routes proceeding and returning, I have examined a great part of the Hume-district now, and thus gained numerous new localities for Victorian and N.S. Wales species. For Victoria I observed as new: Xanthorrhoea bracteata or an allied species, Apium leptophyllum, Dodonaea triquetra, Andropogon refractus, A. montanus, Aristida calycina, one Cladium, 2 Cyperus species, Carex striata, Westringia, Grevillea acanthifolia or an allied species, 1 Uncina (distinct from the 2 hitherto found) , one Eriocaulon, 1 or 2 Acaciae, — and as new to science I obtained 1 Stackhousia, a Grevillea, an arborescent Bertya rising to 25' hight, one Lemna with almost orbicular fronds and numerous rootlets. These are all from the lower or the subalpine country.

The only new glacier-plant is a Ranunculus with entire or only 3-toothed leaves. It is a dwarf perennial with yellow flowers and strigose leaves. it only burst into flowers this month (January), the snow having melted only a few weeks ago, and will cover the plant again before Easter

There is an asterisk in the text at this point, indicating where the text of a marginal note was intended to be read. The note, scored through, reads: 'This Ranunculus I have named R. Findlayi, in honor of the Gentleman, who much aided me from his place on the base of the alps in accomplishing my task'. See n. 4.

so I got no fruit but I obtained fruit of Seseli algens also both sexes of Antennaria uniceps, the female capitula of the latter being much more slender than those of the male plant.

On the N.S. Wales side of the Hume-river I found the celebrated Eucalyptus Globulus, Atherosperma moschatum, Grevillea Victoriae, Dianella Tasmanica, Casuarina quadrivalvis, Veronica notabilis. Isotoma fluviatilis and several other southern plants. Some of the Eucalypts were puzzling, but hardly any in flower. I noticed an Asplenium, distinct from any known to me; but it may be only of the numerous forms of Asplenium marinum. Of horticultural interest is the tall Corraea ferruginea, which in the sub alpine waters of the Hume-River produces red flowers as magnificent as those of C. speciosa.

It was not to be expected that I should fall in with many absolutely new plants on the alps, having traversed these repeatedly; but I stood sadly in need of a change of air, having lost since months all desire for food and being almost unable to sleep. I feel much invigorated, altho' the heat in the lowlands was excessive, and it was almost beyond my strength to climb the rocky hills, when each rock was daily for many hours as hot as an oven.

Samolus Valerandi (the small flowered variety with membranous leaves), Viola Caleyana, Polygala Japonica are rather common on both sides of the Hume-River, at many spots.

For Brasenia peltata I have now three new localities, the Hume-River, Mitta Mitta & Upper Murray River. On close examination after my return I find that the Glacier-Ranunculus, mentioned above, is likely a form only of the one, to which you gave so kindly my name.

Ranunculus muelleri was described by Bentham (1863-78), vol. 1, p. 13. The final paragraph is written in a darker ink, with which the marginal note (see n. 3) is also deleted. M instead honoured James Findlay with Bertya findlayi 'dedicated to a generous man J. Findlay, who with the greatest kindness walked a long way to help in the revealing of this plant' (B74.03.01, p. 141).

Always with deep regards your

Ferd. von Mueller.

Acacia

Andropogon montanus

Andropogon refractus

Antennaria uniceps

Apium leptophyllum

Aristida calycina

Asplenium marinum

Atherosperma moschatum

Bertya

Brasenia peltata

Carex striata

Casuarina quadrivalvis.

Cladium

Corraea ferruginea

Correa speciosa

Cyperus

Dianella Tasmanica

Dodonaea triquetra

Eriocaulon

Eucalyptus Globulus

Grevillea acanthifolia

Grevillea Victoriae

Isotoma fluviatilis

Lemna

Polygala Japonica

Ranunculus

Samolus valerandi

Seseli algens

Stackhousia

Uncina

Veronica notabilis

Viola caleyana

Westringia

Xanthorrhoea bracteata