Document information

Physical location:

RB MSS M61, Library, Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne. 82.03.18

Plant names

Preferred Citation:

Paul Foelsche to Ferdinand von Mueller, 1882-03-18. 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/82-03-18>, accessed September 11, 2025

1
Marked by M: 'Erhalt u Beantw 5/4/82 F v M' [Received and answered 5 April 1882 F v M]. Letter not found. MS found with a specimen of Eucalyptus oligantha (MEL 704023), accompanied by an envelope addressed to M and marked 'Botanical Specimen only From P. Foelsche Port Darwin'; with a note from Foelsche, 'To Baron von Mueller Melbourne. Leaves of Stuart's Nankeen coloured gum tree from Daly Waters'; and a small envelope inscribed 'Seeds of Stuart's Nankeen coloured gum tree from Daly waters'.
Palmerston
18th March 1882'
Geehrter Herr Baron
Hiermit schicke ich Ihnen Blätter und Saamen eines Eucalyptus der am Daly Waters 400 Meilen von hier zu Hause ist, an der Telegraphen Linie ist der Baum als "Stuart's Nankeen gum tree" bekannt und habe ich die Blätter und Saamen durch die Gütigkeit des Telegraphen Inspectors Herrn Little erhalten, nur dauert es mir das ich keine Blüthen erhalten habe. Sollte der Baum Ihnen unbekannt sein, will ich Ihnen wo möglich Blüthen besorgen. Ich habe einige Blätter von, was ich denke der "Euc. grandifolia" i[st]
2
Editorial addition.
und so bald ich Blüthen bekommen kann werde ich Ihnen Selbige zu schicken. Ich glaube Sie haben ein kleines Exemplar dieses Euc. von Herrn Burkitt erhalten, es ist sonderbar dass die junge Pflanze das erstes Jahr blühet wenn sie kaum 18 Zoll hoch ist, und hat eine grosse weisse Blume.
Ich hoffe auch Ihnen bald Blüthen des Bambus zu besorgen, da ich aus gefunden habe dass die Eingebornen am Adelaide Fluss die Blüthe kennen.
Mit der Hoffnung das Sie sich Wohl befinden schliesst
Achtungsvoll
ergebenst
Ihr
Paul Foelsche
Palmerston,
3
Now Darwin, NT.
18 March 1882.
Esteemed Baron,
Herewith I send you leaves and seeds of a Eucalyptus that is indigenous at the Daly Waters
4
A repeater station on the Overland Telegraph Line, approximately 600 km south of Darwin.
400 miles from here. At the telegraph line the tree is known as 'Stuart's Nankeen gum tree', and I have received the leaves and seeds through the kindness of the telegraph inspector, Mr Little. I only regret that I have not received any flowers. If the tree is not known to you, I shall try to obtain flowers for you where possible. I have some leaves from what I think is
Eucalyptus grandifolia

Search for Eucalyptus grandifolia in

, and as soon as I can get flowers, I shall send them to you. I believe you have received a small specimen of this eucalypt from Mr Burkitt. It is strange that the young plant flowers in its first year, when it is barely 18 inches high; it has a large white flower.
5
See M's description of Eucalyptus foelscheana, B82.11.01, which matches this brief account. AVH (accessed 24 April 2022) lists two 1881 specimens under Corymbia foelschaena (MEL 1612323, MEL 1612328) attributed to W. C. Burkitt [William Christophher?] but that may have been collected by his brother, John Burkitt (1834-1909) who was resident in the NT at the time. William Christopher Burkitt's son, William Clarence Burkitt, was at 'Newcastle Waters', NT by the 1920s, but at the time of this letter was evidently still in SA, at ''Tingatingarna' or 'Innamincka'. No specimens from any Burkitt are listed in M's description.
I hope also to get you soon flowers of the bamboos, as I have found out that the natives at the Adelaide River
6
NT.
know the flowers.
In the hope that you are well, I conclude
respectfully
your devoted
Paul Foelsche.