Ferdinand von Mueller

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MS found with a specimen of Argyrodendron actinophyllum (MEL 2226314 & 2226315). Based on the nature of the salutation, the correspondent is identified as George Bennett, d. 1893.

Sydney June 16th 1875

My Dear Baron Von Mueller

I received your kind letter of the 6th inst

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Letter not found.

respecting the different species of Tarrietia of N. S. Wales. I have carefully examined our now full grown trees & even to a casual observer, the differences are well marked, & on a closer investigation the differences are still more apparent. There are three well marked species

I have sent you enclosed the foliage of the three species, the foliage in each species is of a similar character all over the tree, & all the specimens are from trees of mature growth, now nearly twenty feet high. The under surface of the leaves of T. argyodendron have a golden tinge. The species named T. Carroni is perfectly distinct, having a very slight silvery tinge on the under surface of the leaves. This species when first discovered on the Bellinger

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Bellinger River, NSW.

was found to have a more southernly range than the former, indeed it was observed that where T. argyodendron leaves, the species T. Carroni begins. Besides T. Carroni has smaller leaves, shorter petioles, & in growth is more erect and compact, than is observed in T. argyodendron. The T. actinidendron

5

Incorrect spelling here, correct above.

is so perfectly distinct that it is impossible to confound it with the other two species. I do not know if you sent a number of Fragmenta alluded to but if so none were received

Baron V. Muller.

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sic.

F.R.S.

&c&c