Document information

Physical location:

Barr Smith Library, University of Adelaide, SA. 85.04.04a

Plant names

Preferred Citation:

Ferdinand von Mueller to Ralph Tate, 1885-04-04 [85.04.04a]. 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/1880-9/1885/85-04-04a-final.odt>, accessed June 5, 2026

Eastereve
1885.
1
In 1885, Easter Day was 5 April.
I have every reason to think, dear Prof. Tate, that the tall Xanthorrhoea of Kangaroo-Island, is a distinct species. It seems nearer to X. australis than to any of the two, occurring near St Vincent's Gulf, and as you were the first, to draw particular attention to it, I have called it X. Tateana, and written an article on the subject, which will soon appear.
2
B85.07.01.
It might be well, to mention this at the next meeting of the R. S. of S. Australia. In justice to Mr Tepper I would like to mention, that he thought already the species distinct from X. quadrangulata, and I have now fuller information and material, confirmatory of that view, from Mess Somerville & Wilks, who in a very enterprising manner made the collecting of Xanthorrhoea-resin in various parts of Australia and so also in your colony a matter of mercantile business.
Regardfully
your
Ferd. von Mueller.