Document information

Physical location:

RB MSS M5, Library, Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne. 75.01.01

Plant names

Preferred Citation:

Frederick Bailey to Ferdinand von Mueller, 1875-01-01. 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/1870-9/1875/75-01-01-final.odt>, accessed July 17, 2026

1
MS black-edged. MS found with specimen of Bulbophyllum baileyi (MEL 1540827). Attached to the sheet are four small packets containing parts of the specimen, and labelled by Bailey:
'Leaf and part of pseudo-bulb'
'Portion of rhizome'
'Flower | I have not pressed it — thinking you would see the form better'
'Base of peduncle showing the bracts'.
M has added the name of the species to each packet. He described the species in B75.02.01, p. 5.
Boundary Street
Brisbane
Jany 1st 1875
Baron F v Mueller
Melbourne
My dear Sir
The complements of the season to you, may it be a happy and prosperous one to you. I have just sent in my report and have as in duty bound acknowledge[d]
2
Word runs off page.
my indebtedness for your kind assistance —
The enclosed specimen of what I take to be your
Bolbophyllum nematopodum

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is from a plant now at Bowen Park.
3
The Queensland Acclimatisation Society’s ground in Brisbane.
I sent it from Cardwell.
4
Qld.
The flower I forward is the only one I have ever seen — If not the above which it […] not bear out all the description have you named it?
I found it at the top of range Dalrymples Gap
5
Qld.
— growing on the Sheaoaks (
Casuarina

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s) its creeping rhizome at times reaching to I should say 5-6 feet the whole length well leaved leaves single at a distance of say 2-3 inches from each other. Notice the peduncle is very short and covered with sheathing obtuse or apiculate bracts the whole flower is speckled with purple both inside and out — color of outside of sepals greenish yellow inside white petals white The leaf I forward is somewhat smaller & narrower than they are generally never lanceolate always obtuse
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never lanceolate always obtuse interlined .
— I have given you the above remarks to assist in comparing with other specimens all else you will find from the specimens sent and after all I believe it a new species of Bolbophyllum
I forgot to say that the labellum is very loosely articulated, moveable quite as much so as
Drakaea irritabilis

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. And also lies in the notch between the two lateral sepals and reflexed behind them, and at the time of flowering is at the top of the flower
Ever your obliged
F. M. Bailey