The correspondence of Ferdinand von Mueller: 18/12/91 ¶ ¶ By this mail, dear Dr Dyer, I beg to send you two bulbs, just received from Turtle-Island ¶ of the extremely rare Calostemma album. The hon [J] Douglas, C.MG., made a special voyage to ...

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Physical location:

RBG Kew, Kew correspondence, Australia, Mueller, 1891-6, f. 17. 91.12.18a

Plant names

Allium ursinum
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Calostemma album
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Eurycles
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Preferred Citation:

Ferdinand von Mueller to William Thiselton-Dyer, 1891-12-18 [91.12.18a]. 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/1890-6/1891/91-12-18a-final.odt>, accessed June 9, 2026

Date stamped: Royal Gardens Kew 26. Jan. 92; annotated in pencil by [W. Thiselton-Dyer] And 4.2.92; in ink by [W. Watson]: 47/1892 (i.e. entry number in Kew Inwards Book); in ink by [W. Hemsley]: Informed . 25.4.94. Thiselton-Dyer’s letter not found, but see M to W. Thiselton-Dyer, 18 June 1894 (in this edition as 94-06-18a).

Kew Inwards book 1888-92, p. 453, entry 47 records the receipt of these bulbs and has an added note in red ink: ’Flwd in April 1894, and proved to be sylvestris Salisb.’

18/12/91

By this mail, dear Dr Dyer, I beg to send you two bulbs, just received from Turtle-Island

Off Cape York, Qld.

of the extremely rare . The hon [J] Douglas, C.MG., made a special voyage to that island, to obtain for me these bulbs. The plant is not known from any other locality yet. As regards its leaves it fits better into the genus than in Calostemma, but I am aware, since in 1840 I collected in Schleswig, that liliac. genera may have species with cylyindric and also with broadly expanded leaves. The foliage of is particularly beautiful. I hope, you will give this extremely local plant a place in the Bot. Mag., should it come into flower with you.

Oliver (1891-5), vol. 24, plate 2371. In the accompanying text, Oliver wrote ‘We figure this rare plant at the suggestion of Sir F. v Mueller. ... our figure is from specimens collected by R. Brown ... It might be better to regard it as a ... than as a Calostemma.’

I hope also that the mode of packing will turn out a correct one.

Regardfully your

Ferd von Mueller

If this sending fails for one cause or an other I will effect a new one, as I have planted some bulbs here.