From Ferdinand von Mueller to the Editor of the Argus   10 Oct 1879

The Tasmanian species, alluded to in your issue of the 8th inst., is well known since 1810 as very distinct from the original Waratah of New South Wales, where it is ascertained to occur in various localities between the Shoalhaven River and Port Stephen, whereas the Tasmanian species — Telopia1 truncata — is confined to that island.2 In the same manner, also, the third congener — Telopia oreades — is restricted to East Gipps Land.3 That the Tasmanian T. truncata reaches a height of 30ft., as mentioned by Mr Emmett, was also noticed at South Port (see Fragmenta, II., 171)4 fully 20 years ago. It is a superb plant, and, like our own Gipps Land species, much easier manageable in horticulture than the New South Wales Telopia speciosissima, ours also surpassing the latter much in height.5

Telopia oreades

Telopia speciosissima

Telopia truncata

Typesetter's error here and below for Telopea?

R. Brown (1810a), p. 198.

Vic.

B61.11.04.

See also S. Emmett to M, 9 November 1879 (in this edition as 79-11-09b).

Letter not found. The text given here is from Argus, 11 October 1879, p. 7, col. c. (B79.10.06). The letter is introduced by 'Baron von Mueller has furnished us with the following explanatory note in reply to Mr. S. B. Emmett's letter in reference to the Waratah in Tasmania'. Skelton Emmett's letter, 'The Waratah in Tasmania', 8 October 1879, p. 10, speculated on the relationship between the Tas and NSW waratahs. M's letter is dated to 10 October as the latest that it could have been written to be published on 11 October.

Please cite as “FVM-79-10-10c,” 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/79-10-10c