From Ferdinand von Mueller to the Editor of the Argus   [Dec 1852]

While the indigenous vegetation of this country, so far as I can judge during a brief stay, displays a number of peculiar forms, especially in the higher hills, it also presents a great analogy with that of the neighbouring colonies, chiefly with Van Diemen's Land. The ferns which abound in the shaded valleys do not, with a few exceptions, differ from those of that island. The same noble forms of the tree fern (Alsophila Australis) occupy the dry sides of the hills, and of this the most common of the arborescent species of the overflowed valleys (Dicksonia Antarctica), the stem of the latter being clothed as in Van Diemen's Land with the transparent Klymenophyllum,¹ Trichomanes, Psilotum, and other tender ferns, but affording at the same time nourishment to Pittosporum bicolor, to Lyonsia praminca,² resembling the gigantic parasites of the virgin forests of the tropics, or to the magnificent sassafras tree (Atherosperma moschatum), which latter for some time kindly vegetates with the fern-trees, but in the course of time overwhelms or destroys it. But with these, as well as the musk aster (Eurybia Argophyll)³ the Bedfordias and other Tasmanian plants are mixed, numerous species entirely new to science, among which four new Panax species (P Dendroides, P Dallachii, P Panoclobus,⁴ P Angubifolius)⁵ originally discovered by the assiduity of Mr Dillachy,⁶ and the Australian mulberry tree, Pseudomorus Australasica form a prominent feature in the scenery, and are often accompanied by the beautiful Bignonia-like Fecoma⁷ Latrobei. The following plants likewise deserve notice, as either remarkable or ornamental, and apparently peculiar to the nearest ranges:—Correaochrolenca⁸ and Phebalium asteriscophorum, both with the medical properties of the Bucco-bush, Eurybia Rhodochaeta,⁹ E Rugosa, E Adenophylla,¹⁰ E Asterotristia,¹¹ Sambucus, Gaudichaudiana,¹² (the valuable elder of Australia), Senectio¹³ vagus, the aromatic, Prostanthera hirsuta,¹⁴ Pimelea axiflora (powerful surrogate of the Mezerion¹⁵ shrub), Pultenaea Oreophila, P Angustifolia, P. brachypoda, Bossidea¹⁶ decumbens, Asterotristia¹⁷ asperifolia, Tetratheca Caueraefolia,¹⁸ Patersonia aspera, Grevillea repens, and Dallachiana. This latter is found more frequently towards the east, and several beautiful species were observed in the lower country, viz, G. Latrobei, G Chrysophaea, G induta, while in the remotest Grampian ranges amidst other subalpine plants noticed by Sir T Mitchell,¹⁹ very different species are discovered. Those of the hills and their associates are often formed with graceful climbers (Billardiera brachyantha, B. macrantha, B finitima, Clematis blanda), ornamented.

Amongst the Eucalyptus trees, the principal timber of Australia, hardly any agree specifically with those of Van Diemen's Land, but they are exactly similar to those of South Australia. They consist of the Red Gum, (E. rostrata); the Peppermint, (E odorata); the Manna tree, (E. sacchariflua), the Stringy- bark tree, (E Fabrorum). These and others, like the Indian maleleucas,²⁰ are remarkable for the Cajeput-oil contained in their leaves, and in the gums which exude from their stems, and in this point of view alone considering their boundless number, their value can hardly be over-estimated. For the sake of these and other valuaable²¹ substances, the vegetable kingdom of this Colony is well worthy the attention of Naturalists. The gum of some of the acacias, for instance, will probably stand comparison with the valuable gum arabic. Thus bark and timber are likewise useful, and most likely, with the sandaric of the pines (Callitris), would be valuable as export. The Beygera²² ledifolia and Ricinocarpus sidaeformis are purgatives. The Sabaca²³ arata,²⁴ a plant which abounds in our grassy meadows, has important medical virtues, and the rarer Sabaca albidiflora is an excellent tonic.²⁵

Dr. FRED. MUELLER.

Alsophila Australis

Asterotristia asperifolia

Atherosperma moschatum

Bedfordia

Beygera ledifolia

Billardiera brachyantha

Billardiera finitima

Billardiera macrantha

Bossidea decumbens

Callitris

Clematis blanda

Correaochrolenca

Dicksonia Antarctica

Eucalyptus Fabrorum

Eucalyptus odorata

Eucalyptus rostrata

Eucalyptus sacchariflua

Eurybia Adenophylla

Eurybia Argophyll

Eurybia Asterotristia

Eurybia Rhodochaeta

Eurybia Rugosa

Fecoma Latrobei

Grevillea Chrysophaea

Grevillea Dallachiana

Grevillea induta

Grevillea Latrobei

Grevillea repens

Klymenophyllum

Lyonsia praminca

Maleleuca

Panax Angubifolius

Panax Dallachii

Panax Dendroides

Panax Panoclobus

Patersonia aspera

Phebalium asteriscophorum

Pimelea axiflora

Pittosporum bicolor

Prostanthera hirsuta

Pseudomorus Australasica

Psilotum

Pultenaea Angustifolia

Pultenaea brachypoda

Pultenaea Oreophila

Ricinocarpus sidaeformis

Sabaca albidiflora

Sabaca arata

Sambucus Gaudichaudiana

Senectio vagus

Tetratheca Caueraefolia

Trichomanes