Melbourne
30/5/88
Mons. Maistre,
Vice-Consul for France
It affords me much pleasure, honored Sir, in continuation of former correspondence to inform you, that I have just been able to secure from Central Australia seeds of the Casuarina Decaisneana which tree forms in wide regions towards the Centre of the Australian Continent the only timber tree, it not reaching Shark Bay,1 where Capt Freycinet explored in the earlier part of this century. This Casuarina will therefore prove in the hottest and driest parts of Algeria a valuable acquisition, if finally it became naturalized, as it will grow even best in sandy ground. The timber is of good quality, and the foliage is liked by herds and flocks.
With regardful remembrance your
Ferd. von Mueller.
Casuarina Decaisneana
Please cite as “FVM-88-05-30,” 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