Document information

Physical location:

RB MSS M1, Library, Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne. 89.12.11

Plant names

Preferred Citation:

John Reid to Ferdinand von Mueller, 1889-12-11. 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/1880-9/1889/89-12-11-final.odt>, accessed June 5, 2026

1
MS found with a specimen of
Hibbertia volubilis

Search for Hibbertia volubilis in

(MEL 1009850). MS annotation by M: 'Answ 14/12/89'. Letter not found. See also J. Reid to M, 12 December 1889 (in this edition as 89-12-12a).
COFFEE PALACE
GRAND CENTRAL
151 CLARENCE ST.
SYDNEY
Dec 11 — 1889
Dear Sir —
Having noted in your edition of Bentham's Australian Flora
2
Bentham (1863-78), vol. 1, p. 37.
that
Hibbertia volubilis

Search for Hibbertia volubilis in

was to be found at North Shore,
3
Sydney.
& on Port Jackson, I yesterday visited the former, but made a fruitless journey. I presume building has very greatly caused the Scrub to recede since then. I went to the government botanist's & found his secretary at home. The specimen collector at once informed me that Specimens were abundant at Manly
4
Sydney Harbour.
& all along the coast, on sandy places, more especially where the Sandstone is being disintegrated.
There I found the identical plant, judging from odour & other points.
5
Some years later, after he moved to London, Reid published a paper on
Hibbertia volubilis

Search for Hibbertia volubilis in

(Reid (1903)). In this he acknowledged 'my old and esteemed friend the later Baron Sir. F. von Mueller, who kindly assisted me in the bibliography, and told me that, as the order had been little investigated, my work would serve to indicate the general properties of its members'.
Note please:
Manly specimen
Coraki
6
Northern coast of NSW.
Specimen
Ovules 3 or 4 labal, central in attachment.
Ovules ∞
7
i.e. a large indefinite number.
Seeds — three in each of the five achenes — of somewhat lunar shape. Style persistent
(?)
Stems may lie like Coraki ones, & show decided tendency to creep — or in poor soil may be little shrub with stem ½ inch in diameter
Stems — with prickles all thin & creeping
Calyx, & seed cover gradually decay.
(?)
Bract — one
Bract (?).
I send you a specimen of Manly plant in different parts. I also forward along with it some Chrissine & Chrissic Acid made from the Coraki plant. The quantity is very small for obvious reasons. I spent about 6 hours in obtaining plant enough in Coraki to make about 2 [p], & unfortunately in attending to other matters destroyed some of it. You will of course consider them more as curiosities than anything else. Please note that the tube containing chrissine is marked C, the other Cc . which will enable you to distinguish them without the aid of litmus paper. There is a colouring matter — but I trust I shall have leizure to investigate the matter carefully. Chrissine occurs also as colorless crystals.
Perhaps my description is not accurate as regards the Coraki plant. The odour is so suggestive of identity that I have little doubt in the matter. Habitat is different, here on sea side — really not facing Pt Jackson but the ocean, & close to it. Flowers seem abundant.
I shall again call on you to let me have a full description of the plant prior to publishing — or a reference for the purpose. You will of course have all due acknowledgment.
Kindly excuse this — as the pen is bad.
With best wishes
Yours faithfully
John Reid
Baron Sir F. Von Müller K.C.M.G &c.
Arnold Street
South Yarra