Document information

Physical location:

RB MSS M17, Library, Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne. 92.06.16a

Plant names

Preferred Citation:

Leonard Rodway to Ferdinand von Mueller, 1892-06-16 [92.06.16a]. 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/1890-6/1892/92-06-16a-final.odt>, accessed June 15, 2026

1
MS found with a specimen of Lepidosperma inops (MEL 2295081). The specimen sheet has M's label 'Lepidosperma inops F.vM. & Rodway'. Rodway (1893a), p. 93 (read 12 July 1892) gives a brief description, attributing the name to M and stating that it was 'at present in Baron von Müeller's hands, awaiting his leisure to be scientifically described'. M did not publish a description but Rodway (1894), p. 182, wrote that it 'is probably an extreme variety of L. lineare' and described it as 'L. lineare, var. inops'.
Hobart
June 16th /92
Dear Baron,
I enclose herewith a few specimens of a very small species of Lepidosperma. It grows in small dense pulvinate masses on dry hills near here somewhat resembling in detail L. lineare. I examined many hundred plants extending over a considerable area & always found the extraordinary development of the bracts & few spikelets constant. L. lineare grows in the same locality but does not deviate from its terminal form of fruiting. The hypogynous scales appear thick, ovate-acuminate & rather less than ½ the length of the nut.
Yours faithfully
L Rodway