Document information

Physical location:

Barr Smith Library, University of Adelaide, SA. 82.10.21

Plant names

Preferred Citation:

Ferdinand von Mueller to Ralph Tate, 1882-10-21. 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/1880-9/1882/82-10-21-final.odt>, accessed June 4, 2026

21/10/82.
Herewith, dear Prof Tate, I beg to send you a variety of
Dendrobium canaliculatum

Search for Dendrobium canaliculatum in

, which I have recently received from the vicinity of Port Darwin, where it was discovered by Mr Paul Foelsche. The plant may be of sufficient interest for being placed before the Royal Society of South-Australia, in as much as we knew hitherto only two truely epiphytal orchids from the North of Arnhemsland land
1
sic . NT.
or indeed from any portion of that territory, though doubtless some others will be found yet in the coast-jungles there. This variety, which I have called Foelschei, and which almost might be regarded as a distinct species,
2
M described Dendrobium Foelschei as a new species in B82.10.04, p. 230.
differs from the typical
Dendrobium canaliculatum

Search for Dendrobium canaliculatum in

in being more slender, having generally narrower leaves, producing more numerous flowers with narrower upwards deep-rosy not yellowish calyx-lobes. To some extent this variety holds the same relation to the var. Tattoniana, as
Dendrobium Hillii

Search for Dendrobium Hillii in

to D. speciosum. Incidentally I may remark, that D. canaliculatum has been observed so far south as Edgecombe-Bay,
3
Bowen, Qld.
and has been noted also as occurring at Cleveland-Bay.
4
Townsville, Qld.
Regardfully your
Ferd. von Mueller.
Your Habenaria from Cox's peninsula
5
West side of Port Darwin, NT.
is H. elongata, RBr.