Document information

Physical location:

RB MSS M39, Library, Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne. 91.05.03

Plant names

Preferred Citation:

Otto Tepper to Ferdinand von Mueller, 1891-05-03. 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/91-05-03>, accessed September 11, 2025

1
MS found with a specimen of Abutilon sp. (MEL 2221887).
Hope Cottage, Somerset Place, Norwood,
3 May, 91.
Hochverehrtester Hr. Baron!
Beifolgend beehre ich mich ein kleines Packet Roebuck Bay Pflanzen (Nos 35, 101, 134-150) an Sie abzusenden, und Sie um die Bestimmung derselben zu bitten. Einliegend sende ich Ihnen auch etwas Samen von dem Abutilon Mr. J. Bagot's, wovon ich Ihnen vor einigen Zeit Spezimens sandte. Ist es Ihnen gelungen die Art zu bestimmen? Blattform (aber nicht Grösse) u Blumen scheinen mir mit A. graveolens zu stimmen, aber der Geruch fehlt, während für A. muticum die Blumen viel zu gross u. die Fruchtform eine andere ist, indem die Ecken scharf sind aber ohne vortretende Spitzen.
Habe ich es Ihnen schon mitgetheilt dass ich bei meinem Besuche der Barossa Ranges bei Lyndoch (letzter Ostern) ein neuen Standort für Hymenanthera Banksii, nämlich den westlichen Abhang eines der Berge.
Gehörten die gesandten Früchte der Adansonia Gregorii, od. einer andern Art an?
Hoffentlich haben Sie sich von Ihren N. Zealand Reise u den darauffolgenden Anstrengungen in Betreff der Elder Expl. Party erholt u. genieszen gute Gesundheit.
Mit Hochachtung
Der Ihrige
J. G. O. Tepper
Hope Cottage, Somerset Place, Norwood,
3 May, 91.
Most highly esteemed Baron!
By the same post I have the honour to send you a small parcel of Roebuck Bay
2
WA.
plants (Nos 35, 101, 134-150), and ask you to determine them.
3
There are multiple specimens with these collecting numbers in MEL, except for one specimen only numbered 143 that is dated 1893 and so could not have been included in this package. All but specimens with numbers 135, 138, 144 and 148 include a specimen from Roebuck Bay or its vicinity. There are two nos.101 from Roebuck Bay, different species collected at different times. Those from Roebuck Bay are dated between September 1889 and February 1891. No report by M on this collection has been found.
Enclosed I am sending you also some seeds of the Abutilon of Mr. J. Bagot, of which I sent specimens some time ago.
4
MS is accompanied by a paper seed packet labelled: 'Abutilon Peak, Central Australia […] […] A. graveolens no scent. Fruit different from A. muticum Mr J. Bagot's Garden, Adelaide original Seeds from vicinity of the Peake Far North, S.A. March 26 1891 Abutilon Tepper.'
Have you succeeded in determining the species? Leafform (but not size) and flowers seem to me to agree with A. graveolens, but lacks the perfume, whereas the flowers are much too large for A. muticum and the shape of fruit is different, the corners being sharp but without projecting points.
5
Abutilon flowers had been sent with O. Tepper to M, 22 April 1891.
Have I already told you that on my visit to the Barossa Ranges near Lyndoch
6
SA.
(last Easter) I [found] a new locality for
Hymenanthera banksii

Search for Hymenanthera banksii in

, that is the western slope of one of the hills.
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The find had been reported in O. Tepper to M, 7 April 1890 (in this edition as 91-04-07c).
Do the sent fruits belong to
Adansonia gregorii

Search for Adansonia gregorii in

, or to another species?
It is to be hoped you have recovered from your New Zealand trip
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M went to Christchurch, NZ, in January 1891 to attend the third Congress of the Australasian Association for the Advancement of Science.
and the strain following on in connection with the Elder Exploring Party and you enjoy good health.
With respect
Your
J. G. O. Tepper