Document information

Physical location:

ML MSS.562, Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales, Sydney. 75.10.23

Plant names

Preferred Citation:

Ferdinand von Mueller to Edward Ramsay, 1875-10-23. 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/1870-9/1875/75-10-23-final.odt>, accessed June 13, 2026

Melbourne 23/10/75.
I have examined your new Orchid, dear Mr Ramsay, and refer to it Dendrobium though the pollinia have dropped in the aged flowers, which were available to us. The species stands near to D. Mirbelianum & D. antennatum from New Guinea, but it is specifically distinct from these and any others hitherto known. I have written a description of the species and will name it after you, unless it came from Mr Brown's
1
George Brown.
recent Wesleyan Mission cruize; in such a case I would call it D. Wesleyannui, in honor of the scientific efforts of the mission.
2
M named no Dendrobium with either of these propsed names. See M to E. Ramsay, 30 October 1875, where M concludes that Ramsay's specimen is a variety of D. antennatum.
What is the root like?
As it is not an Australian but a polynesian species, I cannot describe it in the Fragmenta, but may perhaps insert it into a small special publication, which I intend to bring out, should Mr Walter's collection contain important novelties. Has your Royal Society regular issues of prints, into which new species of plants on occasions like these could be inserted.
Regardfully your
Ferd. von Mueller.
To what group does the Duke of York's Island
3
The Duke of York Islands, Papua New Guinea, form part of the Bismarck Archipelago.
belong? I am glad of the prospect of getting more from you from the North of Queensland.