Victoria Parade
Maryboro'1
27/10/81
Baron Von Mueller K.C.M.G. &c
Dear Sir
From the appearance of the inclosed specimen, I think the2 differ so much from the T. Antennifera & T. McMillani,3 that I venture to send them for your consideration — No 1 is found in the same locality as T. Antennifera but the latter is out of flower for some time as well as T. McMillani & no 2 is always marked in the three upper sepals & seems much shorter in the sepals but possibly the difference is immaterial. Of No 1 are just coming in flower but I only got 8 or 10 specimens on two hills distant half a mile & nearly all the Orchids are out of bloom — M. Porrifolia4 & Prasophyllum excepted —
Respecting water plants I regret to say we have no clear or permanent water here5 — merely dams of dirty mud with no vegetation except a little here & there of algae, adhering to sticks — I purpose taking a trip to the Loddon6 shortly where I will have an opportunity of collecting some I hope when I shall let you know if successful — Mining work prevent any permanent water being about here — even what is to supply the town is quite thick until precipitated
I shall send a few more of the commoner plants & shrubs for you to kindly name as I wish your authority respecting them before I give the name to a few enquirers here — I am endeavouring to get a few young men to take to collecting natural history
I am Dear Sir,
Yours obediently
John N McKibbin
Microtis porrifolia
Prasophyllum
Thelymitra Antennifera
Thelymitra McMillani
Maryborough, Vic.
they?
Thelymitra antennifera and Thelymitra macmillanii.
Microtis porrifolia.
M had recently issued a circular asking collectors to include water plants; see M to Australian newspapers, September 1881 (in this edition as 81-09-00f).
Loddon River, Vic.
Ms found with a specimen of Thelymitra carnea, but no MEL number was recorded when it was removed. MS annotation by M: 'Answ 28/10.81'. Letter not found. See also J. McKibbin to M, 11 October 1881.
Please cite as “FVM-81-10-27a,” 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