Ferdinand von Mueller

1

Letter dated on basis of its evident relationship to H. Scott to M, 15 August 1881 (in this edition as 81-08-15b). It was certainly written prior to Scott’s marriage to C. W. Morgan in 1882.

Ferndale

nr Double Bay

2

Sydney.

My dear Baron Müeller

I send you specimens of a Dampera

3

i.e. Dampiera.

but I do not know if it is the one you want. It seems in growth exactly like the one I drew (& which Dr Woolls called a var. of Stricta ) & yet the flowers are different — The specimen I first got had only one flower that was open on it. The others were all withered & dead, & this one flower I drew from was a particularly fine one of a very deep blue & with the upper petal all in one . I was so very much struck with the graceful little plant that I drew this living flower in several positions putting them on places in the plant where there were dead ones — If these specimens I now send are the same as that I drew then the flower must have been a malformation as these I see have the upper petal cut in two. The buds too, & there were lots, were very pretty & all tipped with deep blue —

These plants I have sent you by the same post were all got at Double Bay, growing in deep Shade under Banksia & other trees, & all in the small Ferns and old dry grass — Some of the plants you will see are of great length but I could not find a single seed vessel —

The flowers enclosed were broken off the plants I send you —

Tell me if I am to get you any more, & if it is the one you want as then I will send you per post flowers in alcohol. I know where to find more —

You sent Baron Maclay

4

Nikolai Miklouho-Maclay.

& my sister your photograph with all your honours on, won't you give me one .

I am writing to catch todays post.