Document information

Physical location:

RB MSS M5, Library, Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne. 79.10.02

Plant names

Preferred Citation:

Frederick Bailey to Ferdinand von Mueller, 1879-10-02. 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/1870-9/1879/79-10-02-final.odt>, accessed June 4, 2026

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MS found with a specimen of Lastreopsis decomposita (MEL 1560876). A note of the plants sent to M is given in Bailey’s ‘Notebook, Colonial Botanist’, Queensland Herbarium, Brisbane, where, however, the entry is dated 3 October. In addition to the
Dipodium punctatum

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and Polypodium mentioned in the letter, the note includes ‘Asplenium Prenticei Mr B. Trinity Bay Range’ and ‘Davallia speluncae a fragment to compare [ … ] & form from fence Bowens Park’. The specimen of Asplenium Prenticei (MEL 114966) is accompanied by a note by Bailey referring to his description of the species in the Transactions of the Linnean Society of New South Wales (Bailey (1880), issued 16 June 1879 (Anonymous (1929)).
MS annotation by M: 'Answ. 12/10/79. F.v.M.' Letter not found.
Robert St. Brisbane
Oct 2nd 1879
Dear Baron Mueller
The other day Mr Bernays
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L. A. Bernays.
gave me a lot of old specimens most of which by the bye had gone to the bad but amongst them were a few of a peculiar variety of
Dipodium punctatum

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RBr. I send you a specimen Mr Bernays gave me at the time he gathered it on Peel Island Moreton Bay
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Qld.
in 1875 The flowers are a beautiful yellow spotted or blotched with purple much larger than any I have seen of the true species which is a reddish purple. I divide with you what I have of these specimens in hopes you may be able to touch up your former notes
Another curiosity I would bring under your notice. The other day while gathering some fern specimens I gathered what at the time I took for
Hypolepis tenuifolia

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Bernh. but in drying it I found it not a Hypolepis at all but being in fact nearer to
Microlepia

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but the whole growth is that of Hypolepis the slender form or
Polypodium punctatum

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, Thunb There is another question I would ask that is about the Polypodium which has been mixed with
Aspidium decompositum

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Spreng. and
Polypodium rufescens

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, Blume or our plant (northern) like that fern. I think these identical they differing only indumentum Thus the form on Brisbane River has a shiny appearance quite glossy on the upperside The northern form covered with reddish short hairs. Hence perhaps Blume's name if I am right in my determination. Rhizome in both much the same shortly oblique or erect [slender]. Kindly look at these fern specimens and say if it would be safe to give them names I do not think I am quite sure they are distinct and exindusiate than Polypodium — I am the more anxious just now about these ferns as I think of publishing a fresh work on filices and shall enclude the whole of the Australian species
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Bailey (1881).
Looking at the order as a whole there [are]
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word omitted .
two fourths in Q-land with one or more of the other colonies, one 4th in Q-land without other colonies and only one fourth not as yet found in Q-land so I think it unwise not to enclude the whole, and from your former kindness to me dating from your landing in Australia
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M and Bailey first met in Adelaide, soon after M arrived in Australia in December 1847, when M made contact with Bailey's father, the Adelaide nurseryman John Bailey.
I feel sure you will give me your great assistance in all difficulties And of which the question now asked are my first much as I dislike the order I shall follow that given in the Flora
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Bentham (1863-78), vol. 7.
but if you will help me some of the glaring mistakes can be put to rights In the mean while believe me dear friend your greatly indebted
F. M. Bailey
I posted some Eucalypts the other day