Ferdinand von Mueller

1

MS found with a specimen of Eucalyptus baileyana (MEL 1606591).

MS annotation by M: 'Answ 18/6/78'. Letter not found.

Ivanhoe Cottage

15 Robert St. Brisbane

Baron Ferd. von Mueller F.R.S. &c. &c.

My dear Sir

A few weeks back I was out at Coopers Plains that is say 8 or 10 miles South of Brisbane. And on the ridges I noticed a new (to me) species of Eucalypt a sample of which I send you by this mail. The flowers are not out as yet but I have made arrangements with a person on the spot to send them off the same tree that these came off so soon as they are out. At first sight you will perhaps take it for a variety of Blackbut E. pilularis, Sm . but it differs from that species in many ways first this new species is more stringy than any other of the Queensland Eucalypt[s]

2

editorial addition — text runs off the page.

the inner bark being quite tough it has also stringy bark right up both trunk & branches the wood is said to be good and used for posts & rails and is of a yellowish colour the inner bark is especially yellow. The foliage is somewhat glaucus

3

glaucous?

with very oblique leaves as you will observe. The shape of fruit vessel also differs from any I know being as you will see slightly urceolate 3-celled and ribbed or corrugated. — The general height & bulk of this tree is equal to that of the Bloodwood E. corymbosa Sm

4

Bailey has drawn a line across the page at this point.

I wish if you could find time you would look through my Eucalypt and let me have the results with also the name of this species if it is named;

5

M named the species in Bailey's honour. See B78.11.04, p. 37: 'Ad sinum marinum Moreton-Bay rara; Bailey.'

for I fail to find it in the Flora

6

i.e. Bentham (1863-78).

P.S. You will of course have heard of the death of Mr Thozet of Rockhampton

7

Thozet died at Rockhampton on 31 May 1878.

He was a good kind hearted man and an enthusiastic botanist and science will feel his loss deeply