Document information

Physical location:

79.04.00a

Plant names

Preferred Citation:

Ferdinand von Mueller to the Gardeners' Chronicle, 1879-04 [79.04.00a]. 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/79-04-00a>, accessed September 11, 2025

1
Letter not found. The text given here is from 'Home correspondence', Gardeners' chronicle, 14 June 1879, p. 760 (B79.06.01). It is dated to April as the latest likely date that it could have been written to have been published in this issue.
Areca Alicae

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was discovered by Mr. Walter Hill, at Trinity Bay,
2
Qld.
a few years ago, and introduced by him into the botanic garden of Brisbane. I find it a genuine Areca, although I have not seen the ♂ flowers well developed. The species approaches in affinity to A. triandra, Roxb., and A. oxycarpa, Miq. It is dedicated by me to the so early deceased Grand Duchess Alice of Hesse, in order that also in the princely vegetation of Palms the elevated name of Her Royal Highness may remain commemorated for all time.
3
'Named for Princess Alice (1843–1878), the third child and second daughter of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, and who died of diphtheria at the age of 35 in 1878, the first of Queen Victoria’s children to die' (Dowe & Maroske (2016), p. 23).
The description of the species will appear in Dr. Von Regel's Gartenflora.
4
B79.07.06.
F. von Müeller.