Document information

Physical location:

RB MSS M96, Library, Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne. 86.12.16

Plant names

Preferred Citation:

Henry Deane to Ferdinand von Mueller, 1886-12-16. 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/1880-9/1886/86-12-16-final.odt>, accessed June 9, 2026

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MS found with a specimen of Eucalyptus rubida (MEL 231839), accompanied by one of M's plant labels marked by M: 'Eucalyptus | Between Queanbeyan and Cooma. | Dec 1886. H. Deane'.
This tree is called " Flooded Gum " near Queanbeyan. It is a tree with a generally smooth bark, whitish or reddish and somewhat patchy (sometimes like that of E. rostrata and perhaps for that reason called Flooded Gum) — the bark is sometimes somewhat persistent and in that case consists of brown or reddish brown flakes easily detached. The tree grows both on flat and damp ground as well as on undulating ground or even the sides of hills — in the latter case it seems to pass gradually into what Dr Woolls calls the deciduous smooth barked variety of E. Stuartiana.
The timber is that inclosed; it is not at all like that of E. Stuartiana
Dr Woolls's smooth barked E. Stuartiana has similar wood to that sent and I have pointed out to him the consequent probability of a distinction of species.
The suckers have broad opposite leaves like those of E. Stuartiana . Perhaps the nearest relationship is to E. Gunnii , but the leaves are very narrow for that tree. I have however found them as broad as those figured for that species in the "Eucalyptographia".
The persisten barked E. Stuartiana and the persistent barked form of E. goniocalyx have timber which bushmen say is indistinguishable. I cannot detect any difference of character. They both go by the name of "Apple". In New England
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NSW.
E. Stuartiana varies considerably in the smoothness or roughness of its persistent bark, in the size of its leaves and in the length of pedicels and according to appearance it is called Peppermint, Bastard Box or Apple. This I have no doubt is all well known to you.
H D
16/12/86