From William Spicer to Ferdinand von Mueller   16 Nov 1877

My dear Baron —

I sent you a letter¹ asking some information about a month ago — but Mr. Lühmann² very kindly let me know, that you were from home. I now send another note — & perhaps you will be able to answer both at once.

Can you name the enclosed Eucalyptus? It is frequent at Georges Bay on the East Coast (Tasmania). It is known there as "Iron-bark." The friend who sent me specimens writes — "The Iron bark Stephens believes to be undescribed. The tree is quite unlike Peppermint. It has a very rough thick & hard bark, scored down with seams &c. You know how stringy barks look, large & old ones, about the lower part of the trunk; well the ironbarks are something like that, only the bark is quite hard & compact, & you cannot pull any off. It (the bark) is very hard to cut, though not so hard as that of the iron bark in Queensland & N.S.W. The trees are more branching than most of the other Eucalypti here, very often going off into several large branches at 20 feet or even less."

My knowledge of Eucalypti is much too limited to allow of my settling a doubtful species — & I shall be very much obliged by your opinion.

Hoping you are enjoying your trip to W. Australia

I remain

Yrs truly

W. W. Spicer

Do not return the specimens.

3 Elizabeth Street

H. T.³

Nov. 16/77

Eucalyptus