From Fred Gilson   20 February 1886

Blumberg¹

S. Australia

Feby 20 /86

To Baron F. Von Muller

Dear Sir

In a former communication that i received from you² concerning the A. Saligna of W.A. you were pleased to furnish me with the information that i desired for which i tender my sincere thanks. Enclosed please find sample of seed and leaf grown from the seed that i bought and was sold as A. Saligna. I would be glad if you will be able to indentify the tree by the leaf & seed that i send you as i have an idea that it is not true to name. The trees that i have got growing are as yet only a foot high and looking very much like our A. Pycnantha the only difference being in the length and width of the leaf enclosed which is much longer & narrower than A. Pycnantha. The reason i have for doubting the indentity of the tree is this i had some seeds sent me by Mr Brown³ our esteemed Conservator of Forests purporting to be of A. Saligna The two seeds and the trees grown from them where as different as night & day Those seeds sent by Mr Brown where 4 times the size of the enclosed seeds very much like in appearance an apple pip and unlike most Accacia seeds had no tail on the seed. The tree that i grew from them grew very rapidly as in 4 months the tree was 4 feet high and very much resembled the A. Decurrens in leaf and aspect the onley difference i could see in them was that the foliage was a much brighter green unfortunately the only specimen managed to rear was cut down by the frost. I would be very glad if you will let me know which is the true tree you might possibly have a few seeds of the true tree to spare should such be the case i would be glad of them. You might allso let me know where i can procure your work on select plants⁴ as i should much like to have a copy of the same hoping that i am not asking too much of you

I Remain

Yours Sincerely

F. Gilson

Acacia Decurrens

Acacia Pycnantha

Acacia Saligna