Document information

Physical location:

RB MSS M60, Library, Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne. 87.05.17a

Plant names

Preferred Citation:

Alexander Crawford to Ferdinand von Mueller, 1887-05-17 [87.05.17a]. 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/1880-9/1887/87-05-17a-final.odt>, accessed May 7, 2026

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MS found with a specimen of Ailanthus altissima (MEL 2245792). MS annotation by M: 'Answ 27/5/87'. Letter not found.
Mona Plains
Walcha
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NSW.
Baron F von Mueller
K C M G, &c &c.
Dear Sir
I send a few plants, the last for this season I fear, — a short time ago I made another attempt to get down the Macleay, intending to take the table land where the Eucalyptus is, on my way, but got well wet for my pains. I fear that it must lie over until next spring as owing to the great floods the crossings are very unsafe.
I am afraid you will have some trouble to identify some of the plants sent, I had no means of pressing them with me, and carried them in my coat pocket until night.
I send about an ounce of the Eucalyptus resin, that I mentioned in my last. I have had it for several years, the tree is I am certain
Eucalyptus maculata

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, it grows far down on the E Slopes, in spring I will get you specimens of leaves seed &c. also if you care for it resin
I have the honour to be
Baron
Your most obedient
A R Crawford
Description of plants sent
No 14 This is a rare plant Habitat on the Table land close to the Falls
no 15, Hab. Table land. I could not obtain flowers they resemble,
Daviesia latifolia

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which is a most valuable tonic pasture plant, for stock sheep will eat it out —
16 Local name "Small leaf Stinging Tree," Hab. scrubs on E Slopes, the sting of this tree is worse than that of Lapartea
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Laportea?
gigas, height to 30 feet
17 — Hab. E Slopes, in consequence of floods I could not obtain seeds, the flowers are of a most delightful fragrance it deserves cultivation as an ornamental shrub
no 18 Hab. E Slopes, seeds not obtainable, in consequence of floods, both are rare
19. Hab, Table land,
20 Eucalyptus, a small species, not plentiful, Hab. on low ridges, in company with E. pauciflora, and E. Stuartiana, the bark is persistant, but less fibrous than the "Stringy bark tree the tops of the branches smooth.
No 331
Sporobolus

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, — I did not get the name of the species — This is a most valuable pasture grass, much liked by stock, it appears to stand the heat of the low country or the cold of New England — I know an instance of its having on the Macleay outgrown the
Cynodon dactylon

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, in a suitable locality it forms a thick sward of about 6 inces
4
inches?
in height —
The fern is from a young fern tree growing beside a log on the road to Walcha I firs
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first?
noticed about 10 years ago, it was then only a bunce
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bunch?
of leaves I now find it has formed a stem 6 inches high in that time, which proves it to be very slow growing, the
Dicksonia Billardierii

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7
Dicksonia billardierei?
is a very hardy fern, in a gully a few miles from here I have known it remain a week, with ice and frozen snow about the roots, where the gully opened out into a flat I have the ice remain on pools of water for three days.
I should much like to to
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Word repeated in going from one line to the next.
know if the Sumach (specimen enclosed) is of any value for tan or other purposes, it is a tree of about 30 feet, diameter 1 foot, it throws up many succurs,
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suckers?
in the spring I collected leaves from the young plants, cutting the fronds off at 3 inches from the stem. The plants appeared to thrive after the cutting. The leaves became mouldy from the continued wet weather — when full grown the fronds are over two feet in length —
Also in the parcel is a grass it was sown by me at the lower station some years ago in a spare corner it is flourishing, although liked by stock. I do not think it suitable for this district, first frost cuts it off, and if the spring is dry, it does not appear until summer is half over, in a garden it is a most diabolical nuisance. I got it from Sydney as, Phillip's Panic Grass
No 21 This is a small tree Habitat scrubs on E Slopes — in consequence of floods I could not obtain flowers. They grow in large trusses are of yellow or sulpher colour with a most delightful perfume
If you should care for any seeds I can send you some —
I forgot to mention in my last that I could not obtain seeds of "
Comesperma defoliatum

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" — after receiving you letter I at once looked for it but could not find a single plant —
A R C
May 17th 1887