Ferdinand von Mueller

1

MS found with a specimen of Ricinocarpus speciosus (MEL 2065799).

Brisbane

Septr12th 1887

Dear Baron

I send with this a specimen of the rare shrub

Ricinocarpus speciosus

Search for Ricinocarpus speciosus in

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Muell Arg. with copy of a description run out for my coming supplement—

"a tall slender erect shrub to 5-to-7 ft high. branches clothed by a close hoary slightly rusty stellate tomentum. Leaves shortly petiolate, oblong-linear or lanceolate the margins recurved the upper surface bright green when old, but while young covered by stellate hairs, densely white tomentose on the undersurface, 3 or more inches long and over ½ in broad on petioles of about 3 lines. Bracts linear nearly as long as the pedicels Flowers terminal about five together mostly male, the pedicels about ½ in long, with a pair of minute bracteoles about the middle. Calyx lobes 2 lines long, 1 line broad rather obtuse larger under the fruit. Petals white oblong 5 lines long 2½ lines broad, and shortly clawed. Glands distinct very broad and densely ciliate with long white hairs. Capsule oblong about ½ in. long densely clothed by stellate hairs, and bearing the prominently divided styles.

Hab Balmont

2

The a has been altered in pencil to e and Qld added, possibly by M.

scrubs — in fl. in Sept

3

Text ends at bottom of page, without valediction. For Bailey's published description, see Bailey (1888), p. 54. In Bailey's letter-register, the subject-matter of this letter is given as 'Specim of new Hibbertia & Ricinocarpus' (Herbarium Department, letters & packets despatched, Queensland Herbarium, Brisbane).