[We learn that a parcel of dried plants has been received by Baron von Mueller from Mr. Alex. Forrest, by whose party they were collected, in the course of his geographic expedition from Nickol Bay2 to Port Darwin. The plants were despatched from Beagle Bay, lat. 16.56, long. 122.45,3 on 20th April. Among them is a Begonia, the first ever discovered in Australia.4 A screw pine, Pandanus odoratissimus was also found. Mr. Forrest states that the party passed over a splendid pastoral country, well-watered, which he expects will soon be taken up. He hoped to reach Port Darwin in due time.]
Begonia
Pandanus odoratissimus
Letter not found. The text given here is from 'Horticultural notes', Leader, 2 August 1879, p. 8.
WA.
WA.
M was doubtful about this identification and consulted Joseph Hooker at Kew; see M to J. Hooker, 29 January 1883 (in this edition as 83-01-29a); J. Hooker to M, 12 March 1883; and M to J. Hooker, 5 May 1883 (in this edition as 83-05-05a). M did not include Begonia in the catalogue of plants collected on the expedition, B81.13.04.
Later, he asked Otto Tepper to encourage his son to search for Begonia in the same area, complaining that Alex Forrest had picked only a single leaf, M to O. Tepper, 13 August 1889.
Please cite as “FVM-79-04-20,” 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