Document information
Physical location:
RB MSS M76, Library, Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne. 82.06.29
Plant names
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Musa troglodytarum
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Musa troglodytarum
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Preferred Citation:
John Thurston to Ferdinand von Mueller, 1882-06-29. 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/1880-9/1882/82-06-29-final.odt>, accessed June 5, 2026
Fiji.
29 June 1882
My dear Sir.
By the s.s. "Suva" leaving to day for Melbourne I send you the fruit spike of an enormous
Musa which yesterday I found growing wild in the mountains. It is of the
variety, "Soanka" in the vernacular — Some time since I gave Consul Henny a spike
of the ordinary (and described) one — which I believe reached you.
Musa troglodytarum
Search for Musa troglodytarum
in
The fruit was small — say 3. or 4 inches long — & of a deep red colour.
The fruit of this one is enormous some are 11" long and 13" in circumference.
The plant is tall and strong dark green leaves & narrower than in the cultivated varieties.
To day my men shall seek a specimen with flowers and if successful I will forward
them via Sydney by next mail —
I forgot to say that the fruit spike stands quite erect, as in the smaller variety.
It is certainly a marvellously strange object growing. A native who saw the fruit
brought in last night said that there were bigger ones, & different shaped — being
nearly round like a coco nut — in his island "Gau"
He shall have no peace 'til he produces a sample.
This variety I find is called in Fijian "Soanka-Thula"
Believe me
my dear Sir
Faithfully yours
John B Thurston