Ɛpsilon

From John Buchanan to Ferdinand von Mueller   18 Sep 1879

Colonial Museum

Wellington 18th Sept /79

Respected Sir

I send you enclosed a specimen of Caltha Novae Zealandiae in fruit. I am sorry there is not a specimen in flower in the Herbarium. I have often collected this plant in Otago but seldom found it in flower, and your question about the colour,1 suggests a new idea to me as I have never seen the species with a yellow flower, those collected in flower having always been a dirty greenish white and always taken or mistaken perhaps for a yellow faded flower but more buff colour than either white or yellow.2

Remains sir

Yours,

John Buchanan3

Baron Von Mueller

Melbourne

Caltha Novae Zealandiae

1

Letter containing question about colour not found.

2

See J. Buchanan to M, 23 May 1881, reporting collecting specimens of the genus.

3

John Buchanan (1819-1898).

4

MS found with a specimen of Caltha novae-zelandiae (MEL 1004200).

Please cite as “FVM-79-09-18c,” 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 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/vonmueller/letters/79-09-18c