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From M. Dugan to Ferdinand von Mueller   22 Feb 1886

Gilbert River

North Queensland1

Feby 22nd 1886

Dear Baron

I enclose you a specimen of a little tree with berries that I obtained near the Gilbert. — It is the only thing coming any way near the description of the tree you wrote me about2 that I can see about the Gilbert country

The specimen enclosed is from a bushy tree with from one to eight stems from the root, and grows from 2 to 3 feet high, bearing berries first green, then red and when ripe black. I am sure the leaves fall off in Winter as I never noticed the tree I. E. foliage until after the wet season, and I never to my knowledge saw the tree before except in this region, there are many plants that seem strange to me here but as you have been through this country you know them I expect, — though there are many that come up during the wet and soon wither. I will gather what I can and forward you, I am very busy looking for lost cattle in this wretched place that I have not facilities for keeping plants &c, but I expect that things will be better soon.

Will you please not write to me until you hear from me again as I dont know at present where to have my letters addressed to

I am dear Baron

yours obediently

M Dugan

1

MS annotation by M: 'Via Normanton'.

2

Letter not found.

3

MS found with specimen of Breynia cernua (MEL 226136).

Please cite as “FVM-86-02-22a,” 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/86-02-22a