20/6/69
By the Yorkshire, dear Dr Hooker, I have sent you two small Xanthorrhoeas (X. australis) in a close case. I could have sent larger ones, but as there is some doubt about them living, it is well to try these first. As a rule I find they do not transplant well. They live for a while on the sap of the stem and then die off. However your venerable and lamented father succeeded with one from N.S.W. & so you may succeed with others. They require sandy heath soil.
From St. Vincents Gulf1 You can get both X. quadrangulata & X. semiplana.
With best regards
Ferd von Mueller
I have managed finally to put into the case also yet 2 small plants of Xanthorrh australis additionally, and besides a plant of Gahnia erythrocarpa. The latter ought to be a fine acquisition for Europe. It is lovely with its large panicles of red seeds or nuts.
Has Xanthorrhoea minor flowered at Kew? it must be a pretty thing along with Dasylirion &c. It seems never to have been figured.2
Dasylirion
Gahnia erythrocarpa
Xanthorrhoea australis
Xanthorrhoea minor
Xanthorrhoea quadrangulata
Xanthorrhoea semiplana
Please cite as “FVM-69-06-20,” 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