Ferdinand von Mueller

1

MS found with a specimen of Grevillea scortechinii ssp. scortechinii (MEL 98955). In Bailey's register of letters despatched, what appears to be this item—the subject-matter being given as 'name of shrub'—is dated 15 January 1883 (In and out letter and packet book, letter register, Colonial Botanist, book one, 1879-1894, Queensland Herbarium, Brisbane).

Queensland Museum.

Brisbane January 16th 18 83

Dear Baron Mueller

Our friend Father Scortechini and another

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Henry Tryon? See F. Bailey to M, 19 May 1883 (in this edition as 83-05-19a).

brought from Stanthorpe

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Qld.

a Grevillea which at first sight appeared to be new He has forwarded it to you.

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See B. Scortechini to M, 1 January 1883, in this edition as 83-01-01d.

What do you make of it? It seems to differ from G. ilicifolia only in the more prostrate habit, and in the fruit perhaps? From G. aquifolium in the fewer teeth or lobes to the leaves in

5

and?

in the stigma being concave not convex in the centre. In fact I think G. aquifolium G. ilicifolia & this species from Stanthorpe are mere forms of one, but over leaf you will see my description of the plant

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MS annotation by M: 'Answ 25/1/83 FvM'. Letter not found. G. ilicifolia var. scortechinii was published by Bailey (1883), p. 435. M, considering this to be an illegitimate name, subsequently published G. scortechinii in B89.12.03, p. 117.

nothing there is enough to separate it from the others yet it looks different You will of course diagnose it more critically and then it may stand as a species our Rev friend believes it new.

Plant prostrate, branches rusty tomentose. Leaves 1½ to 2 in. long cuneate, the upper part shortly 3 to 5 lobed each lobe ending in a sharp spine the upper surface glabrous, recticulateous prominent – the under surface closely fitted with a silvery or slightly reddish tomentum, petioles about ¼ in. long. Inflorescence terminal appearing lateral from the growing of the shoot. Racemes decussed solitary or sometimes 2 together about 1½ in. long flowers crowded on pedicels of about 1½ lines. Perianth silky outside glabrous inside, tube revolute about 3 lines long. Torus —

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Bailey inserted a long dash at this point.

ovary stipitate silky. Style stout dark, glabrous stigmatic disk oblique concave. Fruit oblique acuminate about ⅓ in. long silky marked with several dark brown lines. Seeds oblong without wings.