As one of the Commissioners for the Intercolonial Exhibition, I am called upon to prepare an essay on the vegetation of all Australia,1 especially in reference to the resources of the country. As one item of interest, this essay will embrace an enumeration of all trees of Australia, as far as known, so tabulated that at a glance it may be seen what species are peculiar to each colonial territory. The tree-vegetation, moreover, impresses on each flora its main physiognomy and points largely to its affinity. Thus, no tree in New Zealand is identical with Australian species, and thus a greater discrepancy becomes apparent between the flora of New Zealand and Australia than between that of India and our continent. If lists of the trees of any part of the globe could be carefully and extensively compiled, undoubtedly very many interesting data, not only for phytogeography, but also for industry and commerce, would be obtained.
I am, etc.,
Ferdinand Mueller.
Melbourne, 26th February, 1866.
Please cite as “FVM-66-02-26a,” in Correspondence of Ferdinand von Mueller, edited by R.W. Home, Thomas A. Darragh, A.M. Lucas, Sara Maroske, D.M. Sinkora†, J.H. Voigt† and Monika Wells accessed on