Document information

Physical location:

RB MSS M1, Library, Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne. 84.00.00g

Preferred Citation:

Alexander Crawford to Ferdinand von Mueller, 1884 [84.00.00g]. 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/1880-9/1884/84-00-00g-final.odt>, accessed June 13, 2026

1
MS found with a specimen, numbered 41, of Rhodanthe anthenoides (MEL 110674), collected in 1884.
Description of plants sent
2
The collecting numbers assigned by Crawford correspond in most cases to specimens at MEL that were collected in 1884, and the item is dated to that year on that basis. In a number of cases, however, there is more than one specimen, referred to different species, with a given collecting number, so that it may not always be possible to match the numbers given here to specimens with certainty. See also A. Crawford to M, 1884 (in this edition as 84-00-00f).
No 38
River or Swamp Oak, height up to 120 feet, girth up to 12 feet, Hab. E Slopes
39
Forest Oak local name Weeping Oak, height 60 feet, diameter 2½ feet Habitat, New England
40
Forest Oak, height 40 feet, diameter 2 feet, Hab Table land, this tree is a great pest, as it forms dense scrubs. Many thousand acres of land in N England are rendered useless by it; it is also a a
3
'a' repeated.
harbour for vermin
41.
White flower. Hab N England those specimens of it growing in the falls are highly scented, both leaf and flower
42
Small yellow flower, is eaten by stock, Hab, New England
45
Moss. Hab New England —
44
A small tree, height 40 feet diameter, 1 foot, Hab, E Slopes
43
Pine Hab New England
46.
Moss Hab New England
47
A small greenish creeper grows to a height of 10 feet Hab E Slopes, is rare
48.
This is a most beautiful tree, local name 'Yellow Cedar', height up to 60 feet, is worthy of cultivation where the climate is not too cold. the wood is fit for cabinet work of a bright yellow, is very lasting, and is sound at the heart, while a piece of the tree [reaming] is at present a mass of flowers, the bunches being a foot in length, seed is abundant and grows freely, they hang on the tree like bunches of grapes until next flowering season, the leaves marking 48A are from a young tree, the others from an old one, Habitat. scrubs also on the open ridges, E. Sopes
4
Slopes?
No 49
flower is much eaten by stock Hab, New England
50.
Moss, grows in the bed of rivers and Creeks New England, am not certain if I have not sent this species before
51
grass Hab New England is a very fine grass, much eaten by [s]tock
52
A species of fig, height up to 40 feet diameter 1½ feet, the fruit grows on the trunk of the tree in small bunches and all over the branches to the end of the smallest twig, the leaf is rough, and is sometimes used by bushmen as Sandpaper. I have used old hard leaves when carving horn, Habitat scrubs, and on the river bank East slopes
53
grass Hab E Slopes
54
grows on bank of creek, Hab East slopes
55
Hab E slopes
56
grows on trees in the scrubs, and on rocks in the heads of creeks, Hab E slopes
57
colour pink when growing, Hab, N England
58
grows in scrubs on the E Slopes, the leaf is extremely tough
59
Fern, Hab New England
60
Fern Hab. E Slopes
61
Is a prickly vine growing in scrubs on the E Slopes, the flowers are scented
62
Fig, Hab. E Slopes
63
Hab E Slopes
64
Small Fern grows under rocks in the scrubs, Hab. E Slopes
65
A large fern, 3 feet in height, Hab. scrubs, on E Sopes
5
slopes ?
66.
Is a most abominable weed, grows up to 8 feet in height, and as thickly as grass, does not grow on the table land, and is not plentiful on the E Slopes, in the Macleay district it is called 'Stinking Roger', and is a great pest on the rich lands. — A splinter from it is considered very dangerous
67
Yellow Trefoil, when withered is eaten by stock — Hab E Slopes
68
grows on the E Slopes
69
A small tree growing in the falls and on the E Slopes, the leaf marked 69A shows a tree infested by insects, in some cases every leaf on the tree is in a similar state
70
A small shrub, Hab E Slopes
71.
grows on the E Slopes
72.
A shrub with minute white flowers, Hab E Slopes
73
grows on the E Slopes is a rare species.
74
Hab E Slopes
75
Hab E Slopes.
76
Hab E Slopes
76
6
number repeated: 77?.
grows on the E Slopes
78
Eucalyptus — N. England
79
grows on E Slopes, height 15 feet
80
Hab New England
81
Hab East Slopes
82
Hab New England, is eaten by cattle
83
Hab New England
84
from East Slopes
85
Hab E Slopes
86
from E Slopes, is rare.
87
Small tree Hab E Slopes
88
Hab E Slopes
89
local name Wild Carrot much eaten by Stock, Hab E Slopes
90
from the E Slopes
91
A prickly shrub growing in scrubs on E Slopes, bears a great abundance of flowers and red berries, the flowers fall in drying, send for another specimen if in doubt
92
A small shrub with white flowers Hab E Slopes
93
Shrub Hab E Slopes
94
Hab E Slopes
95
Orchid growing on rocks in a very shady creek on E Slopes is rare in this district
96
from the falls
97 & 98.
in a small box grows at the root of fallen trees, Hab N England
99.
Moss growing on Anthills (white ant) Table land
100
red lichin
7
lichen?
Do Do. T land
Table land means that the plant grows only on the table land.
Falls that it grows only in the falls, the first few hundred feet of rocky precipitous ground below the Table land
East Slopes that the plant grows on the sloping ground below the falls and from there to the boundary of the Macleay district
New England that the plant is common all over the district