From John Buchanan to Ferdinand von Mueller 23 May 1881
Colonial Museum Wellington
May 23d 1881
Baron Von Mueller
At different times you have called my attention to certain plants, and I have always regretted my inabillity to give you the information wanted, some weeks ago I got an opportunity to visit the Mountainous districts of the south Island — and although I have not got time yet to examine much of my collection I hasten to send what I have determined. The Gentian plant I did not collect myself, but rescued it out of a sackful of living Alpines intended for the Botanic Garden, it is much destroyed, and I can only send you a fragment. I have made a sketch1 as near as I could guess, it was neither in flower or fruit and very much damaged, the branches are in opposite pairs or decussate and I can do nothing more than place it in Gentianaceae from its general resemblance, it may be the Australian plant Erythraea Australis and it will be of much interest to find it in New Zealand.
The Caltha species I send notes with the specimens,2 I was late for getting many in flower. I have not seen a specimen with a yellow flower they are all white, becoming dirty buff white when dry.3
Remains
Yours respectfully
John Buchanan4
Caltha
Erythraea Australis
Gentianaceae
Specimen is accompanied by a sketch, as shown, 16.7 cm x 22.7 cm, labelled 'Erythraea? nat. size', and the following note on a separate slip of paper: 'Erythraea? (Gentianaceae.) Drawing sent, natural size, not in flower. Habitat. Tararua Mountain, Wellington, 6000 feet Alt. Snow gone.' 81-05-23_image01.jpg
Specimens not identified, notes not found.
See also J. Buchanan to M, 18 September 1879 (in this edition as 79-09-18c).
John Buchanan (1819-1898).
MS found with a specimen at MEL in the Gentianaceae foreign unmounted collection, in folder, 'Gentiana, New Guinea and New Zealand'. MS annotation by M: 'Answ 6/6/81'; letter not found.
Please cite as “FVM-81-05-23,” 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