Document information

Physical location:

RB MSS M32, Library, Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne. 91.11.13

Plant names

Preferred Citation:

Ferdinand von Mueller to Maria Henley, 1891-11-13. 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/1890-6/1891/91-11-13-final.odt>, accessed June 4, 2026

13/11/91.
Among the plants, which you kindly sent to the spring-show, dear Miss Henley, was a
Swainsona

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, which is either an unusual variety of a known species, or it may be altogether new. In the latter case I will name it in honor of yourself.
1
See also M to M. Henley, 5 December 1891.
To give the plant its exact position in the phytologic system, it will be necessary, to obtain also ripe pods, not loose, but on leafy branches. Kindly say, under what circumstances it occurs, whether it is rare, whether the flowers are fragrant &c I like also to have a rooted specimen, so as to see, whether it is annual or perennial.
If your brothers received from me by post to their station large paper envelopes, could such be filled there with any kinds of plants in flower and in seed, dried and be returned by post?
2
It is not known which of Henley's brothers held a station property, nor its location. Sydney Henley is the only brother who contributed specimens, from the Upper Flinders River, Qld (AVH, accessed 4 June 2023).
This would give from their new locality additional material for tracing the geographic distribution of many native plants. Perhaps you can enjoy a journey to their place, when you would be sure to make many discoveries. I like from that region also ripe seeds of the best saltbushes I can send your brothers seeds of Kitchen vegetables in return, also roots of the wonderful
Panicum spectabile

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(See "Select pl.".
3
The most recent edition was B91.09.01.
Regardfully your
Ferd von Mueller