To David Boyle   4 June 1870

Melbourne bot Garden

4/6/70

 

The young fern tree, sent by you, dear Mr Boyle, interests me much. It is quite different not only from the Dicksonia Antarctica & Alsophila australis, but also from Cyathea medullaris, found at Cape Otway. You may be right, that it is my Alsophila Leichhardtiana, but your plant has broader scales to the stakes of the fronds and the rachis is less prickly rough. These differences might however be only those of youth. The fruit must show it, which is not developed on your plant. I see also some difference in the denticulations of the lobes of the fronds but these also may arise only from the young age. As soon as the exact species will have been ascertained I will make your discovery known

your regardful

Ferd. von Mueller

 

Alsophila australis

Alsophila Leichhardtiana

Cyathea medullaris

Dicksonia Antarctica

 

Please cite as “FVM-70-06-04a,” 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 29 March 2024, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/vonmueller/letters/70-06-04a