Ferdinand von Mueller

1

MS found with a specimen of Ficus virgata (MEL 2212083).

Queensland Museum.

Brisbane April 27 1881

Dear Baron Mueller

I have just been to the Bot. Gar. and find a young tree of the large kind which Hill

2

Walter Hill. Hill reported that during the 1873 Northeastern Coast Exploring Expedition (see Lavarack (2015), pp. 580-2), on the banks of the Johnstone River:

an enormous fig tree stood in the way, far exceeding in stoutness and grandeur the renowned forest giants of California and Victoria. Three feet from the ground it measured 150 feet in circumference; at 53 feet, where it sent forth giant branches, the stem was nearly 80 feet in circumference. (Maryborough chronicle, 1January 1874, p. 2).

brought from Bellenden Ker — and raised such a hubbub about just coming into fruit so send a specimen to you as I believe he Mr Hill sent some of his specimens to you at the time but would not so much as let me see any of them. I have not opened any of the fruit but without that I should say it was near F subglabra F v M but this you will see and from what I send perhaps you may provided you have not already done so draw up a diagnosis. I think it unwise to take into account any of the tales told about at the time it was first found. I have not had time to look it up so perhaps it is only one already named I think it probable that I shall have something to do with the bot Garden but more of this by & bye

3

Bailey was appointed Queensland’s Government Botanist in 1881.