Document information

Physical location:

RB MSS M46, Library, Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne. 82.06.23a

Plant names

Preferred Citation:

William Woolls to Ferdinand von Mueller, 1882-06-23 [82.06.23a]. 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//letters/1880-9/1882/82-06-23a-final.odt>, accessed June 4, 2026

1
MS found with a specimen of Boronia barkeriana (MEL 248921).
Richmond
2
NSW.
June 23 /82
My dear Baron
I think that the Boronia which I sent yesterday from Botany,
3
NSW. See W. Woolls to M, 22 June 1882 (in this edition as 82-06-22a).
is one of those forms which Mr Bentham has reduced to B. polygalifolia (B. tetrathecoides ?).
4
Bentham (1863-78), vol. 1, pp. 320-1.
By the accompanying specimen, you will see, that the leaves are never trifoliate, the flowers are terminal & surrounded by leafy bracts, the sepals are comparatively long not much shorter than the petals , the filaments ciliate below & glandular above, & the anthers not conspiculously apiculate. Leaves somewhat toothed
5
Leaves somewhat toothed is a marginal note by Woolls, its intended position in the text marked approximately by an asterisk.
The plant is also smaller than the typical B. polygalifolia .
I think you will agree with me in opinion that the plant does not agree with Mr Bentham's description of B. polygalifolia . It may be the B. tetrathecoides of DC, but of this I have no means of judging
The
Symphyonema paludosum

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also came from Botany.
Yours very sincerely
W. Woolls