Ferdinand von Mueller

1

MS found with a specimen of Codonocarpus cotinifolius (MEL 589678).

Youndegin

East York

2

WA.

Oct. 3rd 1888

Would Baron Sir Ferd. von Mueller. K.C.M.G. &c kindly inform me if he his familiar with this Tree of which I am sending two small pices, one with leaves & the other with Berrys on.

3

The file contains one of M's herbarium labels on which he has identified the plant as 'Codonocarpus cotinifolius, FvM Sources of Sw Riv [i.e.Swan River] the remotest eastern Miss Eaton'. The location is on the Mortlock River, a tributary of the Avon River which is in turn one of three major sources of the Swan.

As I have been here for eight Years & as explored a great deal through Forrests & thickets & have never seen anything like it untill a few days ago while passing through a dense thicket in to the hedge of a forrest of what we commonly call a morell forrest. There is a small gully running through it on the Bank of which this one solitary tree of the kind was growing I took a minute survey all around.

And this is the only one I could descern. It grew very straight with little branches protrudeing from top to Bottom the Berrys where only on the top Branches. Its height was from ten to twelve feet. And as I have never seen anything similar & it had such a picturesque appearance I should like to know its name & what family it belongs too Trusting you recieve this safely & also a few fresh Floral offerings.