Ferdinand von Mueller

1

MS found with a specimen of Marianthus bicolor (MEL 66434).

GOVERNMENT RAILWAYS OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA.

The Traffic Manager, Geraldton, to Baron F. Von Mueller

Dr Sir

Last week I sent you a slip from a beautiful ornamental flowering Shrub that flower during the hottest months viz February & March near Geraldton, & grows from two to say five five feet high. Today I found one of the same kind in every respect excepting that it is a climber, it grows at the foot of a Wattle Tree & winds round the branches in a delightful manner. On further examining the Shrub from which I took the first specimen sent you I find that whereas some of the branches are straight others have a twist in them & are much longer, so I conclude that when there is nothing close bye the Plant contents itself by remaining an ordinary Shrub, but if there is a Tree or something similar handy it then delights in climbing up it. The Plant is covered with flowers & just when everything else is parched up & uninviting this lovely Shrub is in full bloom, I will send you the seed in a few weeks if the Bush fires spare the only four Shrubs I know of —

It grows in a sand red loamy Soil between the Railway fences & is thus protected to a certain extent.

I am trying to rear one I have planted yesterday but am afraid it will be in vain as I had to break the long tap root