Document information

Physical location:

RB MSS M141, Library, Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne. 79.11.09b

Preferred Citation:

Skelton Emmett to Ferdinand von Mueller, 1879-11-09 [79.11.09b]. 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/1870-9/1879/79-11-09b-final.odt>, accessed June 16, 2026

1
MS found with a specimen of Notelaea ligustrina (MEL 2274220). MS annotation by M: 'Answ 17/11/79'. Letter not found.
Circular Head
2
Tas.
9th Novr 1879
Dear Baron
I duly received your note last night
3
Letter not found.
Strange, I intended writing to you this post forw arding by Rosedale
4
The steamer Rosedale traded regularly between Melbourne and the north coast of Tas.
care of the a gents at Melbourne a small package of shrub leaves &c for your identification or classification
The specimen showing berries is from a tree about 80 feet high & 2 feet thick. The tree looks very like our common Blackwood but on close inspection differs greatly, I never saw but three specimens — The broad leaved specimen is from the stump of a tree similar in general aspect to the former but the leaves being different shows that it cannot be the same, the trunk had been cut down, but I believe there are one or two more in the neighbourhood of my farm — The third specimen with glossy leaves is from a shrub also in the same neighbourhood but I do not know it.
I will write to Mr Kaiser at Bischoff and endeavour to get specimens of the Richea P.
5
Probably an abbreviation for the species Richea pandanifolia as AVH has no record of Emmett collecting the other possible species, R. procera . .
or Dracophyllum,
6
Richea dracophyllum ? or the related genus Dracophyllum ? See Bentham (1863-78), vol. 4, pp. 257-65 , especially p. 261 .
I have a small one growing in my garden
Your remarks in the Argus
7
M to the E ditor of the Argus , 1 0 October 1879, p. 7 ( in this edition as 79-10-10c ) ( B79.10.06 ) .
with reference to the Waratah of this place Telope a Truncata was copied by our papers,
8
B79.10.07.
and I was glad of the information my own private duties in the farm prevents my attending to the vegetable kingdom, so that sometimes I feel very much inclined to throw up my work and take a turn in the bush
I have been quite inundated with applications for the seed of the Waratah
9
In his letter to the Editor of the Argus , 8 October 1879, p. 10, Emmett had enclosed 'a few seeds, which you can give to your friends'.
I am
Yours truly
S B Emmett
Dracophyllum
Richea pandanifolia
Richea dracophyllum
Telopea Truncata