To William Lonsdale   16 April 1853

Yerring,¹ 16. April 1853.

Sir,

I do myself the honor to inform you for communication to his Excellency the Governor, that according to my last report, forwarded by Mr Dallachi,² I proceeded towards Mount Buller extending my botanical researches over a part of the King-river, Broken-river and Delatite and some of their tributaries. On the summits of Mount Buller, which I reached after a difficult journey on the 22. March, I found for the first time the subalpine forms displayed of the vegetable kingdom of this country in an altitude of about 5000' above the level of the sea. Nearly half of the number of them have been before discovered in Van Diemens Land, the others though are with a few exceptions yet unknown. Podocarpus montana (one [of] the Tasmanian alpine pines), a species of Gentiana of the same virtue as the Gentiana lutea and a remarkable umbelliferous plant deserve as the most interesting plants of this locality particular notice. Amongst many other the seeds of the latter are procured for the botanic garden, as it most likely will prove to be a valuable addition to the vegetable food of the colder climats.

As prevailing rocks I noticed old red sandstone and clay-slate, but the declivities of this mount are densely covered with a course silicious gravel intermixed with milkquartz, whilst a remarkable grassy plateau streches from the top to the eastward.

Returning from Mount Buller I examined some parts of the Goulbourne, the Muddy-creek, King parrots river and Diamond creek as well as some of the adjoyning ranges. In a Polygala of the Goulbourne river is the medical property of the American Senega-root with that of the Austrian Polygala amara united.

The species lately added to my flora of this colony, about 55 in number, represent except those already mentioned the following genera: Eriochilus, Imperata, Eragrostis, Eucalyptus, Opercularia, Astroloma, Geum, Geranium, Acrotriche, Sida, Galium, Ranunculus, Brachycome, Helichrysum, Celmisia, Craspedia, Aira, Danthonia, Carex, Eurybia, Hovea, Oxylobium, Goodenia, Cyathodes, Phebalium, Asperula, Festuca, Hierochloa, Cardamine, Cryptandra, Podolepis, Azolla, Stellaria, Alisma, Utricularia, Riccia, Agaricus, Heleocharis, Gahnia, Lepidosperma, Tetrarrhena, Lemna.

Should not an early beginning of the rainy season compell me sooner to return, I think it desirable to travel from here along Latrobe-river to Gipps' land, visiting some of the outskirts of the Australian alps at the same time and to follow the coast homeward during the next month.

The equal development of the greatest part of the coast vegetation allmost troughout the year will usefully employ my attention even in so late a season and therefore I trust, that my protracted return not will meet with his Excellency's displeasure.

I have the honor, Sir, to be your

most obedient and humblest servant

Ferd. Mueller.

The honorable the Colonial Secretary.³

Acrotriche

Agaricus

Aira

Alisma

Asperula

Astroloma

Azolla

Brachycome

Cardamine

Carex

Celmisia

Craspedia

Cryptandra

Cyathodes

Danthonia

Eragrostis

Eriochilus

Eucalyptus

Eurybia

Festuca

Gahnia

Galium

Gentiana lutea

Geranium

Geum

Goodenia

Heleocharis

Helichrysum

Hierochloa

Hovea

Imperata

Lemna

Lepidosperma

Opercularia

Oxylobium

Phebalium

Podocarpus montana

Podolepis

Polygala amara

Ranunculus

Riccia

Sida

Stellaria

Tetrarrhena

Utricularia