Ferdinand von Mueller

1

The first part of the text is from a MS found with a specimen of Brachyloma scortechini (MEL 2157519). M named this species in B81.08.03, p. 121.

79 with fruits. Only one plant of this kind I could discover, although I was searching for more for a good bit. It did not exceed 1 ft. in height. The flowers are somewhat urceolate, waxy, whitish, semi-diaphanous. I do not remember exactly whether the fruit is succulent or not: did not take any note about it. I think it is not dry all together. I am thankful to you for your kind thoughtfulness in calling this plant after me. In the event of the Daviesia I have included in this packet proving a good species I would rather prefer to see this called after my name.

2

See below.

I have taken great deal more pains with it, looking for it, striking it, admiring it, in fact making a kind of pet of it. However I leave it all to your own judgment

70. Neither flowers or fruit I have of this I have seen both and dissected them. But the flowers in drying get spoiled, and the fruit is bulky to keep among dried specimens. When next I pass by Burleigh Heads

3

All geographical entities named are in Qld.

I shall gather them for you.

68 remained long time among my specimens labelled M. polymorpha , but on finding the No 67 I discarded it.

4

Scortechini's specimen with record number 67 at MEL is Mitrasacme polymorpha (MEL 695983).

Although essentially the same, the appearance is immensely diverse. The height or rather length (as it trails over swampy growth) reaches 3 or 4 ft. In the dried specimens they do not differ much, but seeing them growing, the difference becomes very marked.

5

The text that follows is on a separate piece of paper, of a quite different kind from that found with MEL 2157519, in a hand similar to Scortechini's and associated with a specimen of Daviesia arborea collected by Scortechini in 1881 (MEL 77433). Given the earlier reference to Daviesia, it would seem that the two MSS travelled together. Hill (1880), p. 22 uses the name Daviesia arborea, which was also used in Scortechini (1882) with M given as a joint author, about which The Australian Plant Census comments 'nom. illeg. = Daviesia arborea W.Hill (1880)' (accessed 27 July 2023).

The tree when in bloom is beautiful is in smaller writing and appears to have been added after the main text.

The tree when in bloom is beautiful

136

Daviesia sp. n.?

If a Daviesia, as I suppose, this is very abnormal. It is a tree 50 ft. high with a trunk of 1½ ft. diameter. Haec refert aspectum acaciae.

6

= It has the appearance of an acacia.

I have traced it from the top of Tambourine mountain where is its northernmost limit, down its eastern slopes to the River Coomera; then I loose sight of it for about 15 miles till I meet it again down Burleigh Head and up the Tallebudgera Creek. The specimen I send is badly dried, the best I have. I cannot get a pod, they all fell away, but they are triangular as I observed. I have beeing

7

been?

waiting for better specimens. In October it flowers, and on these intended to run out a description. However, I prefer you would describe it in your Fragmenta and so I give it up to you. The genus, although endemic, requires much comparing, and I do not possess material for it.