From Brabazon Stafford to Ferdinand von Mueller   24 Oct 1882

H. M. P. Barracks¹

Glendhur,² Cardwell³

24th October 1882

My dear Baron von Müller

I have much pleasure in enclosing some leaves and seed pods of what I think is the Eucalyptus Cooperiana Unfortunately the tree had already flowered when I discovered it; should it, however, prove to be the Eucalyptus you desire I will endeavour to procure you flowers of it.

The tree from which I took the enclosed leaves &c appears to be a species of "box" tree, but differs from the ordinary sort in having bark smooth like the smaller branches of the stringy bark tree instead of being corrugated like most box trees and it appears to grow only on barren ridges and the specimens I saw attained no great height (say 20 to 30 feet high).

I have failed to discover any specimens of it near Lake Lucy — the ones I enclose were found by me on the dividing range between the Burdekin and Herbert rivers⁴

You will find also a plant⁵ (very badly preserved) of which I am anxious to get your opinion. Bushmen use it as a tonic and cure for diarrhoea, boiling it with water till reduced to about half the original quantity and then bottling the liquid and drinking it in wine glass doses. If you can make any thing out of the very imperfect specimen I send or think it may be of use from a botanical point of view, I shall be glad to send more of it.

I need not tell you that I have no knowledge of Botany and that while my will is of the best, my want of technical skill is likely to render my efforts of little avail.

With every consideration

Sincerely yours

Brab. R. Stafford

Baron von Müller

&c &c

Melbourne

Eucalyptus Cooperiana