Document information

Physical location:

RB MSS M135, Library, Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne. 83.01.23

Plant names

Preferred Citation:

James Pink to Ferdinand von Mueller, 1883-01-23. 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/1880-9/1883/83-01-23-final.odt>, accessed June 13, 2026

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MS found with a specimen of Ficus virgata var. virgata (MEL 2210752).
Botanic Gardens
Brisbane 23rd Jany 1883
Baron Ferd. von Mueller K.C.M.G. &c
Melbourne
Dear Sir,
Allow me to thank your for your letter of the 15th inst.
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Letter not found.
together with the printed matter enclosed. By to-day's mail I have sent you a small box containing two flowers of
Nelumbium Leichhardti

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Not in APNI.
& a small fruit-bearing branchlet of the Ficus from Trinity Bay. There is no further variation in the leaves beyond that on the branch sent. It forms a very handsome umbrageous tree of semi-drooping habit, & for beauty of habit & foliage will form a rival to
Ficus Benjaminia

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Ficus Benjamina?
It is perfectly distinct from all other kinds of Figs we have growing here. The propagator tells me the young plants were sent here by a Surveyor from Trinity Bay, they were kept in pots for some time, when two were planted out in the Gardens, & are now about fifteen (15) feet high. Two years ago I had a bed trenched for one, which is now making splendid growth & gradually developing into a very beautiful tree, & Mr Bailey & myself think it to be the handsomest variety of the kind we have.
Allow me to thank you my dear Baron for the compliment you have paid me in proposing to name it after me
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Ficus pinkiana, named in B82.12.04, p. 273.
Yours faithfully
James Pink