Document information

Physical location:

RB MSS M46, Library, Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne. 80.01.31

Plant names

Preferred Citation:

William Woolls to Ferdinand von Mueller, 1880-01-31. 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/1880-9/1880/80-01-31-final.odt>, accessed May 15, 2026

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MS found with with a specimen of Eucalyptus crebra (MEL 231139).
Richmond
2
NSW.
Jany 31 /80
My dear Baron,
I recd your letter
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Letter not found.
respecting Mr Tietkins,
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Tietkens?
& got inserted in yesterday's Herald a paragraph, which I forwarded to you.
5
See Sydney morning herald, 30 January 1880, p. 5:
Mr. W. H. Tietkins, F.R.G.S., who started last year from Fowler's Bay [SA] on an expedition into the interior, for the purpose of sinking for water in suitable localities, has had many difficulties to contend against; but, according to a recent report, he succeeded in finding good stock water at a moderate depth between Olden [Ooldea, SA?] and Leisler Hills. Owing to want of rations, as well as the extreme heat of the season, he has been compelled to discontinue his operations for a time, but he regards his discovery as one which will eventually open up a wide and fertile territory for the depasturing of stock. Mr. Tietkins is of opinion that the country which he has recently passed over will be one of the busy highways to the mountain ranges of the interior. He describes the country to the north-west of Olden as very poor, and beset with spinifex and mallee to a heartrending extent. It is remarkable, however, that the blacks, who obtain water from the roots of eucalypts and casuarinas, travel over the desolate and waterless waste in the hottest weather with perfect safety. During the late expedition, botanical and geological specimens were procured for Baron F. von Mueller and the Rev. Julian T. Woods, F.G.S., and Mr. Tietkins is also preparing a paper for the Royal Geographical Society, to illustrate the discoveries which he has made. He proposes to return to Leisler Hills in the course of a few weeks to continue his labours, and it is to be hoped that he will receive not merely the sympathy, but the substantial support, of stockholders in South Australia.'
Many thanks for the Tasmanian Census of Plants.
6
B79.13.07.
As soon as I can do so, I will send for your approval my list of Cumberland Plants.
7
Woolls (1880).
I think that it is a mistake about
Fusanus crassifolius

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occurring near P'matta.
8
Parramatta, NSW; see Bentham (1863-78), vol. 6, p. 217, quoting specimens and notes of Robert Brown (1773-1858).
Will you kindly answer two questions for me? Is the Senecio from the Namoi
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Namoi River, NSW.
S. Cunninghami ? And is the other plant (Sent to me by Mr Alkin) a species of
Opercularia

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?
I enclose again some seed vessels of my E. bicolor from Cabramatta &c.
10
NSW.
The whole character of the tree is different from E. sideroxylon . It occurs only in moist or low places & it is, generally, half barked. The wood is sometimes compared to that of Iron Bark, & hence, perhaps, Caley's name. I dare say that it occurred at Baulkam hills
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Baulkham Hills, NSW?
in the early days of the colony. According to my idea, it comes nearer E. bicolor , than any described in the Flora.
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Bentham (1863-78), vol. 3.
With regard to the Iron Bark Box, I should not be surprised, if it were a variety of E. Siderophloia , differing in the texture of the bark, & the shape of the fruit. The tree is certainly like an Iron Bark, although strictly pachyphloious
The last specimen which you say is E. stricta is smooth -barked, but the former specimen with leaves a little oblique or falcate fibrous barked. I thought, perhaps, the latter was a dwarf variety of E. capitella
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E. capitellata?
or E. eugenioides .
I had hard work at Cabramatta to get the specimens, because the trees are so high. My friend fired again & again at the Iron Bark Box, but could get only leaves & a few fruits
Do you think that the E. obtusiflora from the neighbourhood of Sydney, is really distinct from E. stricta of the Blue Mountains?
Yours very sincerely
W. Woolls
P.S. Have you any memo. on which you can rely, stating that
Acacia melanoxylon

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occurs near Sydney? I never found it, but A. implexa is common.