To William Thiselton-Dyer   29 March 1889

29/3/891

 

The Gymnoschoenus is rightly procured, dear Mr Dyer, through the kindness of Dr Curdie's widow, the plant occuring on the Curdie-River.2 The specimen sent is one of the largest that could be obtained. Let me hope, that it will live through the voyage, and get restored to vigorous growth in your cold-house. It will bear slight frost, but probably not severe cold, though a mere covering of straw may bring it safely through the English winter. This I say, as you may not have space in any of your Conservatories for so bulky a plant. Soil in which Rhynchospora alba & R. fusca grow should suit also the Gymnoschoenus, but it wants plenty of such soil and it likes moisture too.

The plant will be sent (freight here paid) by the Penins. & Orient Steamer next week from here.3 I shall be much interested in this experiment.

Regardfully

your

Ferd. von Mueller.

 

Gymnoschoenus

Rhynchospora alba

Rhynchospora fusca

1
Date stamped : Royal Gardens Kew 8.May. 89. Annotated in ink by William Watson : ' 314-89' (i.e. entry number in Kew Inwards book 1888-1892, p. 186); in pencil by Thiselton-Dyer: And 13.6.89 ( letter not found ).
2
See M to W. Thiselton-Dyer, 30 October 1888 (in this edition as 88-10-30a).
3
The shipment was delayed; see M to W. Thiselton-Dyer, 17 April 1889.

Please cite as “FVM-89-03-29b,” 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 16 April 2024, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/vonmueller/letters/89-03-29b