The correspondence of Ferdinand von Mueller: This magnificent tree reaches a height of 30 feet in its native country, and Mr. Merrall found it widely distributed there, especially over the highlands, on the Benn River. ¶ i.e. Bemm River, East Gi...

Document information

Physical location:

88.03.00c

Plant names

Telopea
Search for Telopea in

Preferred Citation:

Ferdinand von Mueller to Edmund Goeze, 1888-03 [88.03.00c]. 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/1880-9/1888/88-03-00c-final.odt>, accessed June 4, 2026

Letter not found. For the text given here, see ' oreades', Hamburger Garten- und Blumenzeitung , vol. 44, part 5 (May 1888), pp. 239-40 (B88.05.06). Item is dated to March 1888 as the latest likely date it could have been written, to be included in the journal's May issue. The text is introduced by: 'Ueber diese prachtvolle Proteacee von Ost-Gippsland schreibt uns Baron Ferdinand von Müller:' [About this splendid Proteacea from East Gippsland, Baron Ferdinand von Müller writes to us:].

Dieser herrliche Baum erreicht im Heimathslande eine Höhe von 30 Fuss und Mr. Merrall fand ihn daselbst weit verbreitet, besonders über das Hochland, am Benn-Fluss.

Ich sah den Baum hierauf bis nahe 4000 Fuss Elevation im Jahre 1860, als ich ihn am Genoa entdeckte. In milden Gegenden Deutschlands, wie die von Wiesbaden wird er sicher im Freien aushalten, wenn gegen schneidende Winde durch Gebäude oder durch andere Pflanzungen geschützt. Durch sein schönes Laub und die grossen Blumenmassen hochrother Färbung wird diese , welche etwas Schnee ganz gut verträgt, sich den herrlichsten Rhododendron-Arten in dortigen Gärten anreihen können.

This magnificent tree reaches a height of 30 feet in its native country, and Mr. Merrall found it widely distributed there, especially over the highlands, on the Benn River.

i.e. Bemm River, East Gippsland, Vic.

I saw the tree subsequently up to near 4000 feet elevation in 1860, when I discovered it on the Genoa.

Genoa River, East Gippsland, Vic.

In mild parts of Germany, such as those of Wiesbaden, it will certainly survive out of doors, if protected against cutting winds by buildings or by other plantings. With its beautiful foliage and large masses of bright red flowers, this , which tolerates a little snow quite well, will be able to join the most beautiful Rhododendron species in gardens there.