Document information

Physical location:

Library, Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne. 91.12.04

Plant names

Preferred Citation:

Melchior Treub to Ferdinand von Mueller, 1891-12-04. 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/1890-6/1891/91-12-04-final.odt>, accessed June 13, 2026

1
MS is pasted into an uncatalogued ledger-book into which have been pasted reprints (or preprints) of botanical papers by M, at p. 320.
'S LANDS PLANTENTUIN
Buitenzorg (Java) Dec: 4th 1891
My dear Baron von Mueller
Since a very long time Bl. is cultivated in the Buitenzorg Gardens. Concerning this plant the Assistant Director Dr Merck, who is at the same time keeper of the Buitenzorg Herbarium & Museum, gives me the following information.
" P. latissimus Bl. after Prof. Solms Laubach the same plant as P. dubius described by Sulpiz Kurz and probably identical with Sprengel. P. dubius never produces fruits in Buitenzorg and there is not a single fruit of it in our Museum. So it is impossible to say if Baron von Mueller's fruit from N. Guinea is identical or not."
After having got this information from the head of our Herbarium department, I am very sorry to say your question can not be answered by us. In another time I hope to be happier.
Again I have to thank you for the very kind sending of young . Till now I have had bad luck with this remarquable little plant; the young ones that came over alive died very soon. I suppose the climate is to hot. I will try once again with the young ones you send me.
I hope to be soon able to fulfill other wishes of yours and show you my gratitude for your never failing kindness.
Presenting you my respects I remain dear Baron von Mueller
Yours very sincerely
Treub