Document information

Physical location:

RB MSS M1, Library, Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne. 78.01.16

Plant names

Preferred Citation:

Donald Petrie to Ferdinand von Mueller, 1878-01-16. 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/1870-9/1878/78-01-16-final.odt>, accessed May 15, 2026

1
MS found with a specimen of
Stylidium subulatum

Search for Stylidium subulatum in

(MEL 2469192). MS annotated by M: 'Answ 22/1/78'. Letter not found.
Education Office
Dunedin Jany 16th 1877
2
The date given by M in his annotation suggests that Petrie has written the wrong year number, and the letter is therefore dated to 1878.
My Dear Baron,
I have borne your request in mind, and now send you a lot of the flowers of S. grammena
3
grammena crossed out and subulatum written above in M's hand.
from Bluff & Invercargill.
4
Both on the south coast of the South Island of New Zealand. No letter from M to Petrie requesting such flowers has been found, but see M to F. Hutton, 13 May 1877, where he requests them. In 'Observations on the genus Phyllachne', Journal of botany, British and foreign, vol. 16 (1878), pp. 173-4 (B78.06.01), M reported that Petrie's specimens had verified his long-held belief 'that this rare and remarkable plant would be found referable to Forstera ( i.e., Phyllachne )'.
It grows a few feet above sea level to 800 or so on Bluff Hill. I have found it lately near Dunedin altitude 2000 feet. I have been unable to detect any irritability though I have tested the point repeatedly. I hope the specimens will answer your purpose. As mail is closing I cannot say more just now.
Yours sincerely
D. Petrie.