27/1/74.1
Since I last wrote to you, dear Mr Bentham, I went out on a short trip to the Australian Alps, choosing the Hume-River line for approach,2 as in 1854 and 1855 I passed to our Snowy Mountains by the Mitta-Mitta & Snowy River. Having been able to go by different routes proceeding and returning, I have examined a great part of the Hume-district now, and thus gained numerous new localities for Victorian and N.S. Wales species. For Victoria I observed as new: Xanthorrhoea bracteata or an allied species, Apium leptophyllum, Dodonaea triquetra, Andropogon refractus, A. montanus, Aristida calycina, one Cladium, 2 Cyperus species, Carex striata, Westringia, Grevillea acanthifolia or an allied species, 1 Uncina (distinct from the 2 hitherto found) , one Eriocaulon, 1 or 2 Acaciae, — and as new to science I obtained 1 Stackhousia, a Grevillea, an arborescent Bertya rising to 25' hight, one Lemna with almost orbicular fronds and numerous rootlets. These are all from the lower or the subalpine country.
The only new glacier-plant is a Ranunculus with entire or only 3-toothed leaves. It is a dwarf perennial with yellow flowers and strigose leaves. it only burst into flowers this month (January), the snow having melted only a few weeks ago, and will cover the plant again before Easter3 so I got no fruit but I obtained fruit of Seseli algens also both sexes of Antennaria uniceps, the female capitula of the latter being much more slender than those of the male plant.
On the N.S. Wales side of the Hume-river I found the celebrated Eucalyptus Globulus, Atherosperma moschatum, Grevillea Victoriae, Dianella Tasmanica, Casuarina quadrivalvis, Veronica notabilis. Isotomafluviatilis and several other southern plants. Some of the Eucalypts were puzzling, but hardly any in flower. I noticed an Asplenium, distinct from any known to me; but it may be only of the numerous forms of Asplenium marinum. Of horticultural interest is the tall Corraea ferruginea, which in the sub alpine waters of the Hume-River produces red flowers as magnificent as those of C. speciosa.
It was not to be expected that I should fall in with many absolutely new plants on the alps, having traversed these repeatedly; but I stood sadly in need of a change of air, having lost since months all desire for food and being almost unable to sleep. I feel much invigorated, altho' the heat in the lowlands was excessive, and it was almost beyond my strength to climb the rocky hills, when each rock was daily for many hours as hot as an oven.
Samolus Valerandi (the small flowered variety with membranous leaves), Viola Caleyana, Polygala Japonica are rather common on both sides of the Hume-River, at many spots.
For Brasenia peltata I have now three new localities, the Hume-River, Mitta Mitta & Upper Murray River. On close examination after my return I find that the Glacier-Ranunculus, mentioned above, is likely a form only of the one, to which you gave so kindly my name.4
Always with deep regards your
Ferd. von Mueller.
Acacia
Andropogon montanus
Andropogon refractus
Antennaria uniceps
Apium leptophyllum
Aristida calycina
Asplenium marinum
Atherosperma moschatum
Bertya
Brasenia peltata
Carex striata
Casuarina quadrivalvis.
Cladium
Corraea ferruginea
Correa speciosa
Cyperus
Dianella Tasmanica
Dodonaea triquetra
Eriocaulon
Eucalyptus Globulus
Grevillea acanthifolia
Grevillea Victoriae
Isotoma fluviatilis
Lemna
Polygala Japonica
Ranunculus
Samolus valerandi
Seseli algens
Stackhousia
Uncina
Veronica notabilis
Viola caleyana
Westringia
Xanthorrhoea bracteata
Please cite as “FVM-74-01-27,” 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 29 March 2024, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/vonmueller/letters/74-01-27