To William Haines   1 March 1855

Lake Wellington, Gipps Land,

1 March 1855.

Sir

I do myself the honor to inform you for communication to his Excellency the Lieutenant Governor, that I proceeded, according to my last report, dated Omeo 15. December 1854, to the sources of the Snowy River, in order to examine the vegetation of the north-eastern ranges of the Australian Alps. I ascended the summit of the highest northern mount in the Munyang-ranges¹ on the 1. of January of this year and Mount Coskiusko² on the fourth. After the botanical exploration of this part of the Alps had been completed, I descended chiefly along the Snowy River to the Palmtree country on the coast for the purpose of obtaining some of the new plants, discovered there in a very advanced season last year, now in a more perfect state. Hence I followed the coast to Lake King. My researches were here interrupted for longer than two weeks, being stretched on the sickbed by a rheumatic fever, from which I am now slowly recovering. It is my intention to proceed after a visit to the coast opposite to Mount Wellington, with deviations into the mountains towards Melbourne, where I hope to arrive at the end of this month.

In the alpine Flora, over which my last investigations extended, I observed more analogy with the vegetation of the other parts of the Snowy mountains, as I anticipated; still there as well as afterwards many additional plants were gained to the collections formed previously. A considerable share of them is unknown to science, and several promise to be useful in medicine or for other purposes; one new Species of Solanum forming an addition to the few indigenous fruits.

The following list comprises the genera of the additional plants collected during the later part of my journey: Brachycome, Epacris, Solenogyne, Coprosma, Rutidosis, Scirpus, Echinosperma, Calotis, Velleya, Hemiphues, Oschatzia, Gnaphalium, Draba, Botrychium, Polypodium, Euphrasia, Wulfenia?, Phebalium, Plantago, Carex, Ranunculus, Craspedia, Andraea, Lycopodium, Scaevola, Pentachondra, Haplopappus, Harmogia, Lobelia, Notelaea, Solanum, Juncus, Senecio, Lepturus, Panicum, Lysimachia, Eurybia, Loranthus, Zostera, Cryptocarya and Potamogeton. Of several others their systematic position can be only ascertained by analysis after my return; this having been completed a more ample account will be laid before the Government of the results of this expedition

I have the honor to be,

Sir,

your most obedient and humble servant

Ferd. Mueller,

Gov. Botanist.

The honorable the Colonial Secretary, Melbourne.³

Andraea

Botrychium

Brachycome

Calotis

Carex

Coprosma

Craspedia

Cryptocarya

Draba

Echinosperma

Epacris

Euphrasia

Eurybia

Gnaphalium

Haplopappus

Harmogia

Hemiphues

Juncus

Lepturus

Lobelia

Loranthus

Lycopodium

Lysimachia

Notelaea

Oschatzia

Panicum

Pentachondra

Phebalium

Plantago

Polypodium

Potamogeton

Ranunculus

Rutidosis

Scaevola

Scirpus

Senecio

Solanum

Solanum

Solenogyne

Velleya

Wulfenia

Zostera