The correspondence of Ferdinand von Mueller: Campania ¶ 13th May 1880 ¶ My dear Baron ¶ ¶ Though I returned to Tasmania on the 24th of last month I have been incessantly travelling on duty ever since, which must be my apology for not having ans...

Document information

Physical location:

RB MSS M57, Library, Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne. 80.05.13b

Plant names

Cyathea
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Dicksonia
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Eucalyptus Stuartiana
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- Australian Plant Name Index

Preferred Citation:

Thomas Stephens to Ferdinand von Mueller, 1880-05-13 [80.05.13b]. 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/1880-9/1880/80-05-13b-final.odt>, accessed June 4, 2026

MS found with a specimen of cunninghamii (MEL 224426), collected in the Dandenong Ranges, Vic, October 1879.

Campania

Tas.

13th May 1880

My dear Baron

Though I returned to Tasmania on the 24th of last month I have been incessantly travelling on duty ever since, which must be my apology for not having answered your letter earlier,

Letter not found.

or thanked you for the seeds enclosed.

My recollection of the group of s which I visited some years ago near Circular Head

Tas.

is that the stem of the principal one was over 30 ft high, and very slender, tapering gradually from a diameter of not more than ten inches, or thereabouts, at 5 ft from the ground.

I believe that, comparing it with the , it might be correctly described as having "few short fronds on thin stalks", but I am not warranted in saying more about it from memory.

You are probably aware that has not been found elsewhere in Tasmania. I have regarded its occurrence on the North Coast as attributable to the same cause that established a similar colony in the Cape Otway district, which is, unless I am mistaken, its only habitat in Victoria.

I suppose the specimens which I marked "Black Gum" are undoubtedly E. Stuartiana. I can find no excuse yet for the popular names of "Red Gum" or "Swamp Gum" but will continue my inquiries on the subject as opportunity offers. If you will, at your leisure, send me additional copies of your circular to collectors

Circular, April 1876 (in this edition as 76-04-00).

I shall be happy to distribute them.

very truly your's

T. Stephens