The correspondence of Ferdinand von Mueller: BLAKE & RIGGALL ¶ 24 William Street, ¶ Melbourne ¶ 30 June ¶ 187 ¶ 9 ¶ Sir ¶ ¶ I enclose some leaves & flowers picked from a herb growing on the plains near the Castlereagh river in N.S.W. which I ...

Document information

Physical location:

RB MSS M1, Library, Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne. 79.06.30

Preferred Citation:

Arthur Blake to Ferdinand von Mueller, 1879-06-30. 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/1870-9/1879/79-06-30-final.odt>, accessed June 16, 2026

MS found with a specimen of Swainsona swainsonioides (MEL 1544866). Annotated by M: 'Answ 3/7/79'. Letter not found.

BLAKE & RIGGALL

24 William Street,

Melbourne 30 June 1879

Sir

I enclose some leaves & flowers picked from a herb growing on the plains near the Castlereagh river in N.S.W. which I am curious to know the true name of. The settlers about there call it " native indigo ". The plant grows from about a foot to 2 feet high & in wet seasons is very luxuriant. The leaves are a rich green the flower a dark violet very much like the flower of the Sarsaparilla plant but larger —

It is now nearly 3 weeks since I picked the enclosed but I have not been able to send it to you sooner —

I should feel greatly interested in knowing what it is if you are able to recognise it.

I am Sir

Yours faithfully

Arthur Blake

The Baron Von Mueller