Document information

Physical location:

RB MSS M63, Library, Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne. 93.12.30

Preferred Citation:

Herbert Williamson to Ferdinand von Mueller, 1893-12-30. 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/1890-6/1893/93-12-30-final.odt>, accessed June 13, 2026

1
MS found with specimen of Grevillea williamsonii (MEL 75247). M named the species in honour of Williamson in B93.12.02.
Hawkesdale
2
Vic.
Dec 30th 93
Baron Sir F. v Mueller,
Honoured Sir,
I hope that I am not troubling you too much these holiday times, but I have had a ramble around Mr Abrupt
3
Vic.
and have gathered some more specimens which I send per this post.
Re. my Grevillea
4
See M to H. Williamson, October 1893 (in this edition as 93-10-00) and M to H. Williamson, October 1893 i(n this edition as 93-10-00a).
It appears to be exceedingly rare. I came across one plant only, & this only after searching systematically for 4 hours round the spot where I remembered to have picked the specimens. I enclose a branch; please say if you would like more, as I have some. As to fruit — I searched carefully, and could find nothing that looked like ripe fruit I expected to find something similar to the dehiscent fruit of G. aquifolium which is very plentiful there, but all the flower stalks were bare as per sample enclosed
5
MS has 'A' marked here to identify the specimen being referred to.
as if all fruit had fallen, so I scraped up a large quantity of the rubbish below the shrub & searched this. In it I got a lot of what appear like shrivelled, barren, ovaries (enclosed in packet A)
Is it possible that the organs as per packet B
6
Packets A and B not with the specimen.
are the developing fruit. As I found one with a turgid orange-yellow ball as large as a pin's head on I suspected it to be so. However I suppose it will all be plain to you. I regret that I lost the little ball; but if the others are still to develop, I can easily procure specimens in a month or so, as I pointed out the shrub to Mr Bolton of the Bee farm. I was around the spot several times afterwards, but could not find another plant.
Can it be that the plant has now no means of reproduction
The absence of fruit & the rareness of the plant seen to point to this.
Re No 25 in envelope
appears to me a glossostigma but has two stamens only
7
In B88.11.02, p. 84, M lists Glossostigma with 4 anthers.
[Locality]
8
editorial addition — MS damaged.
sandy shore of small lake in Victoria valley.
9
There are 5 specimens with a Williamson collecting number 25 for 1893 in MEL; only MEL 2080623, Spyridium vexilliferum, is said to be from Mt Abrupt, which is to the east of Victoria Valley.
I send you all I could find in the time at my disposal of Candollea sobolifera Chiefly fruiting
I sincerely trust that your lung affection has passed away or abated. I am sure my brother would feel well rewarded by a very brief reception he expected nothing more.
10
See M to H. Williamson, 28 December 1893.
With kind wishes for your health & prosperity in the coming year
I am
Yours respectfully
H. B. Williamson
11
File contains a photograph captioned: 'Wannon R. | Grampian Apiary | The Picaninny'. On the back Williamson has written: 'This shows "The Picaninni" a hill between Mt Abrupt and Mt Sturgeon — Mt Sturgeon ½ mile in direction A [marked with an arrow pointing, on the front of the photo to the left] Mt Abrupt 1 mile in direction B [marked with an arrow pointing, on the front of the photo to the right]. Mr Bolton's Bee farm in centre. Little cross above the apiary shows where I found Grevillea Williamsoni These picture are my own work & I send them thinking they may interest you. H B Williamson'. The file contains only the annotated photograph: M evidently received the photograph earlier than the letter with which it is now filed; see M to H. Williamson, 28 December 1893.
Candollea sobolifera
Glossostigma
Grevillea aquifolium