Document information

Physical location:

RB MSS M46, Library, Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne. 93.02.17a

Plant names

Preferred Citation:

William Woolls to Ferdinand von Mueller, 1893-02-17 [93.02.17a]. 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/1890-6/1893/93-02-17a-final.odt>, accessed June 4, 2026

1
MS found with a specimen of Eucalyptus canaliculata (MEL 1609305). MS annotation by M: 'Answ 22/2/93'. Letter not found.
Burwood
2
NSW.
Feby 17 /93
My dear Baron,
I am sending you by this post a specimen of the Eucalypt which I believe to be E. pellita , which you have united with E. resinifera .
The tree is one of moderate size, resembling E. punctata (Grey gum or Leather Jacket) in bark, wood & foliage, but differing in having much larger flowers, a double operculum, & fruit hemispherical with a raised rim.
I sent specimens of this to you many years ago from Manly Beach,
3
NSW.
& I think they have been confused with those of E. resinifera var. grandiflora , but all the forms of E. resinifera (the Red or Forest Mahogany) have fibrous or wrinkled bark, a long operculum, & the valves of the fruit much exserted.
The present specimen was sent to me by Mr Rudder for identification, so I have no doubt it occurs occasionally along the Eastern Coast to Northern Queensland, whence you appear to have recd
4
received.
specimens from Rockhampton.
5
In Eucalyptographia, Decade 1, M says E. resinifera has been 'traced northward hitherto to the vicinity of Rockingham-Bay (Dallachy) and the Daintree River (Fitzalan)'.
The woods of E. resinifera & E. punctata are both good, but whilst the former is a bad burning wood, the latter affords excellent fuel.
Unless, by any stretch of imagination, you can regard my specimen as a large flowering var. of E. punctata , I think you will have to revive your E. pellita
I think I mentioned before that we have found Sir T. Mitchell's "Goborro" to be a small var. of E. largiflorens
Yours very sincerely
William Woolls
P.S.
The grandiflora var of E. resinifera belongs to Rhytiphloiae, but your E. pellita to Leiophloiae, though the bark is rather tougher and darker than that of E. punctata . The bark is not fibrous but quite deciduous