Botanic Garden
Brisbane 27 December 1872
Dear Baron Von Mueller
Your favor of the 12 inst1 safe to hand and I have much pleasure in stating that the Doryanthus2 Palmeri was first noticed by me growing upon Mount Spicer near Cunningham Gap3 some 17 year ago at the time in the month of July it was not in flower and I set it down for D. excelsa so much did it resemble it in its habitate about 7 year after I was passing that way and brought several plants with me for the Garden and the first flowered in 1870. The flower stem was erect and rose to the height of 12 feet the flower[ing] part was 3 feet 6 inch I have paid a visit twice this season for the purpose of obtaining seeds but as yet have failed none of it having become ripe
The locality that Hartman4 sent you the specimen of is about 20 miles from where I found it. Mr Guilfoyle of the Exot[ic] Nursery says it is upon the dividing range between Queenslan[d] and New South Wales.
I named [it]5 in Honor of the Honorable The Colonial Secretary (A. H. Palmer) of Queensland I think it is the finest plant I have seen of the order it belongs to. A fine figure of it was sent to Dr Hooker of Kew. The drawing was made by a Mr Scott of Sydney — the Dr says it is a superb plant.6
I also discovered a white variety of Doryanth. Excelsa growing upon Mount Lindsay.7 It flowered last year and was much admired.
I enclose what I take to be a new orchid perhaps a Gooderia.8 I could not find any of it in flower — the leaves has a white stripe up the centere.
In another letter I send you some specimen of Acacia & othe[r] and should feel much indepted to you to put me [ryght] in their names some of the Acacia is handsome trees I hope you will be able to make them all out.
I start tomorrow to the Rosewood Scrub and will bring you some others that I think I will find. have you come across the name of the Palm yet. It is in fine fruit with us — trusting to hear from you soon &c
I am
Sir
yours truly
Walter Hill
Acacia
Doryanthes excelsa
Doryanthus Palmeri
Gooderia
Letter not found.
i.e. Doryanthes.
Qld.
Carl Hartmann.
editorial addition.
In the text accompanying an illustration of D. palmeri (J. Hooker (1865-1904), vol. 109, tab. 6665), Joseph Hooker states that the drawing was made by 'Miss Scott', as does Bentham (1863-78), vol. 6, p. 453.
Qld.
Goodyera?
MS found with a specimen of Doryanthes palmeri (MEL 2270084), annotated by Hill: 'Oct 1870, W. Hill'.
Please cite as “FVM-72-12-27,” 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