Document information

Physical location:

GRG 19/391, State Records of South Australia, Adelaide. 91.12.12

Plant names

Preferred Citation:

Ferdinand von Mueller to Nicholas Holtze, 1891-12-12. 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/1890-6/1891/91-12-12-final.odt>, accessed June 4, 2026

12/12/91.
Have spent some time over your Aeschynomene
1
See also M to N. Holtze, September 1891 (in this edition as 91-09-00d), no. 1332.
from the Swamp, dear Mr Holtze, and feel not yet sure, whether it ought to be considered a form of A. aspera.
2
Aeschynomeae aspera var. oligartha (B92.01.03, p. 136).
The fruits are broader, and (so far as I have seen them unbroken) consist of only 3, 2 or even only 1 partitions. Is that always so? I notice along the outer edge of the lower petals a remarkable fringe, which seems not to have been formed merely by the wearing away of parenchymatous substance. I have but few flowers, and so cannot settle this question either Let me ask you, to settle these two points from fresh material there.
You will soon hear further from me about your plants. The liberal supply of valuable seeds entitles you also to my best thanks. I hope to see your worthy father in Adelaide next month
3
Maurice Holtze, who had become director of the Adelaide Botanic Garden a few months earlier. M was planning to visit Adelaide to consult Sir Thomas Elder about Antarctic exploration. See also M to N. Holtze, 12 January 1892.
Regardfully and with best festive greeting
your
Ferd. von Mueller.
1324 is a long-flowered variety of
Heliotropium ventricosum

Search for Heliotropium ventricosum in

, RBr., so far as I can see on hurried examination, but I have not yet carefully dissected it.
4
See also N. Holtze to M, 7 March 1892.
Have you the true H. ventricosum with shorter fl. there?
5
This sentence is a marginal addition.
Have again worked on 1322,
6
See also M to N. Holtze, September 1891 (in this edition as 91-09-00a). A specimen of Huxleya linifolia (MEL 22383) is accompanied by an undated note in what is probably Holtze's hand: '1322. This has been sent to you several times already, but I have never been able to find fruit until last season when 2 or 3 were seen but unfortunately have been put away very carefully and cannot be now found. The fruit is that of a Clerodendrum (4 one celled pyrenes) Are you able to identify the specs. as sent?'
but not even been able to determine the order to which it belongs, though that will likely be
Verbenaceae

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. Is it a rare plant? Under what circumstances does it occur? What is the color of the corolla? Are the flowers fragrant?
The scandent Bauhinia I am just describing as B. Holtzei from your last set of plants.
7
M exhibited a specimen under the name B. holtzei, collected by Nicholas Holtze, at a meeting of the Field Naturalists' Club of Victoria on 14 December 1891; see M to N. Holtze, September 1891 (in this edition as 91-09-00a), and Victorian naturalist (1892), p. 131. However, he subsequently had second thoughts (see M to N. Holtze, 18 December 1891, and N. Holtze to M, 7 March 1892), and seems not to have published the species.
Fortunately you were able to obtain both flowers and fruits. I like to know something about the manner of its occurrence