The correspondence of Ferdinand von Mueller: October 11 1885 ¶ Dear Baron Mueller ¶ ¶ I have received slightly better specimens of the Johnstone River ¶ "Hardwood" and from these I am fully persuaded the tree is not an Eugenia but think it muc...

Document information

Physical location:

RB MSS M5, Library, Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne. 85.10.11

Plant names

Backhousia Bancroftii
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Cupania
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Eugenia
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Hernandia
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Myrtus
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Sloanea
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Preferred Citation:

Frederick Bailey to Ferdinand von Mueller, 1885-10-11. 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/1880-9/1885/85-10-11-final.odt>, accessed June 4, 2026

MS found with a specimen of Backhousia bancroftii (MEL 2091728).

October 11 1885

Dear Baron Mueller

I have received slightly better specimens of the Johnstone River

Qld.

"Hardwood" and from these I am fully persuaded the tree is not an but think it much more likely a Backhousia but its ovules are those of I would like to have your opinion of this for although I may receive ripe fruit there is the chance that I may not in time to utilize the wood

Bailey was preparing a selection of Qld woods for the 1886 Colonial and Indian Exhibition in London; see Bailey (1886a).

— I may here remark that young Bancroft

Thomas Bancroft?

in forwarding what I take for the fruit of those of which he had formerly sent foliage often sends quite a distinct tree he has done this with the & others — he seems to trust to memory and not to duplicate specimens however from fruit wrongly sent I have been able to determine some of those I sent to you. I feel so sorry that I troubled you with them — He has sent me what he calls the flowers of that climber bearing the large 3-celled fruit with large globose nuts and of which I sent you the foliage a short time ago prior to which I sent you a good sound fruit the best I had received. I have opened none of the flowers but will send them on to you as you have the best fruit I would like it named after some prominent feature in the plant and to bear our joint authority — I thought the flowers bore some resemblance to

? crossed through, apparently by M, and Backhousia substituted. Bailey's description, lightly edited, was published as Backhousia bancroftii in Bailey (1886), p. 24, under the joint authority of Bailey and M.

Bancroftii sp nov

a tall tree with a persistent thin somewhat scaly bark — the wood of an almost equal color greyish-brown very strong & durable known as the Johnstone River "Hardwood" the branchlets Leaves penninerved, opposite, ovate-lanceolate, or those nearest to the inflorescence smaller, and ovate-oblong 2 to 4 in. long 1¼ to nearly 2 in. broad, very obtuse or shortly acuminate, tapering at the base to a 3 lined long petiole midrib and primary veins prominent the latter looping far within the margin.

Inflorescence very slightly pubescent in terminal trichotomous panicles which are often in the upper axils thus having the appearance of large leafy panicles common peduncle slender about 2 in. long bearing 3 to 5 pedicellate flowers at the ends of the branches pedicels slender about 4 lines long — calyx tube broadly turbinate strongly ribbed and slightly pubescent scarcely 2 lines long, lobes 5 unequal broad and rounded, much imbricated with more or less scarious margins marked with prominent veins persistent and enlarging somewhat after flowering. Petals 5 orbicular much crumpled and very deciduous slightly larger than the calyx lobes. Stamens free numerous inserted on a raised prominent ring, inflated in the bud. Ovary broad slightly sunk in the flower, but becoming more or less superior as it advances towards maturity 2-celled with about 6 ovules in each cell, the subulate styles rather long and persistent.

Yours very truly

F M Bailey

Ripe fruit? I enclose a few of the more advanced fruits. These are not from Bancroft I have sent you his before — I feel sure you will agree with me that it is not an .

I cannot remember sending you any from Mount Mistake

Qld.

could you return a portion of it and I will endeavour to get better specimen for you