Document information

Physical location:

RB MSS M20, Library, Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne. 83.05.22a

Plant names

Preferred Citation:

Ralph Tate to Ferdinand von Mueller, 1883-05-22 [83.05.22a]. 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/1880-9/1883/83-05-22a-final.odt>, accessed June 4, 2026

1
MS found with a specimen of
Pultenaea

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graveolens (MEL 35146); MS annotation by M: 'Answ 25/5/83'. The species was described in Tate (1885), p. 68. The sheet contains specimens collected from the same broad locality at different times, each with a label by Tate. The October 1880 label has no name, but the February 1883 collection is labelled '
Pultenaea

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graveolens | Fv. M & Tate | …'. However, consistent with Tate's comment in R. Tate to M, 6 May 1884, when published it was under Tate's authority alone.
May 22, 1883
My Dear Baron.
I acknowledge with thanks the receipt of:–
1) Reprint Diagnosis of
Eriochlamys Knappii

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The reprint was of B83.05.02. Specimens at Kew (K 901837) and Melbourne (MEL 543278) are also accompanied by copies of this paper.
2) Specimens of the plant & accompanying letter
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M to R. Tate, 13 May 1883 (in this edition as 83-05-13a).
3) Letter enclosing samples of
Calocephalus Drummondii

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4
M to R. Tate, 16 May 1883 (in this edition as 83-05-16a).
The latter plant is not new to me though its name is; it has, with us, been called
Gnephosis Skirrophora

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. I enclose a South Australian example. I know it from several stations near Adelaide; and east side of Lake Alexandrina. I have critically examined a specimen from each of my localities, & find them to agree in the plumose pappus as in the W. Aust. samples.
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M, in (B89.12.03), pp. 139, 140, and Tate (1890), pp. 128, 129 each recognise both Gnephosis and Calocephalus as distinct genera.
By parcel post I send you a small collection of plants, most of which I want your opinion upon them; the number is small so that I venture to hope to have an early reply from you
The
Pultenaea

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, of which I send you some old pods, is as far as I can judge from descriptions a new species. I have prepared a detailed description of it, and suggest the name graveolens , as it possesses a most offensive odour. It forms extensive thickets on the dry hill sides about Uraidla,
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Mt Lofty Ranges, SA.
& exhales an over powering scent during calm, sunny weather
Yrs very truly
Ralph Tate