Ferdinand von Mueller

1

MS found with a specimen of Lastreopsis hispida (MEL 530845). MS bears the embossed seal and crest of the Government of Tasmania. MS annotations by M: 'Aspidium hispidum Swartz.' and 'Answ 30/9/81'. Letter not found, but M's annotation provides the basis of the dating of the present item.

Judge's Chambers

Hobart

Dear Baron,

I enclose you a small portion of a fern which is now growing, or trying to grow, in my fernery. It was found by Mr George Lefroy (a nephew of our Governor

2

Sir John Henry Lefroy.

) about thirteen miles to the north of Macquarie Harbour. He found a patch of it, and sent some plants of it to His Excellency, who kindly sent me one of them, first labelling it as "Davallia dubia". This it certainly is not, nor is it a fern included in your census of the plants of Tasmania of 1879.

3

B80.13.10.

I have 41 of the Tasmanian ferns named by you growing in my fernery, and the one of which I send you a small frond is certainly not one of those of which my collection is deficient. I take it to be a " phegopteris ", but Tasmania has not heretofore had a Phegopteris assigned to it.

Mr Lefroy was making a tour to see our Western Country, and has himself told me where he found the Fern growing. The plants were damaged in their transit, and were planted in sand on their arrival in Hobart whereas their natural soil is a yellow clay so Mr Lefroy tells me, hence they have not flourished since their arrival & I therefore can only send you a small frond of unhealthy appearance.

I enclose you a leaf of "Eucalyptus globulus" eighteen inches long, the tree from which I gathered it had many as long, but as these leaves are longer than any I had previously noticed I send you one

P.S. If it is not asking too much I should be glad if you would let me know what the fern is, and whether it is not new to Tasmania.

The opening up of our Western Country from Circular Head to Macquarie Harbour will I believe lead to many new botanical discoveries.