From John Reid to Ferdinand von Mueller 12 Dec 1889
COFFEE PALACE
GRAND CENTRAL
151 CLARENCE ST.
SYDNEY
Dec 12 1889
Dear Sir —
By this post I have sent you Chrissine, Chrissic Acid, specimen of plant at Manly Beach1 known as H. volubilis,2 with seeds & seed capsule.
Enclosed please find resume of characters — more correct than those previously sent. I [...] I noted in my last that the stems had prickles. This is incorrect. The prickles are on the edge of the leaves. The hairy stems are noticeable in the Coraki 3Specimen.
Probably the distinctions are due to different habitat & do not alter the name of the plant. Your knowledge of plants will at once set me right. I am sorry to give you so much trouble — more especially in your advanced age.
With best wishes
Yours faithfully
John Reid
Baron Sir F. Von Müller K.C.M.G
&c. &c4
Hibbertia volubilis —
Will you kindly inform me if the plant at Coraki is identical with that found at Manly —
|
In Coraki plant |
In Manly plant. |
Stem — always small, & at times creeps round plants. Hairy —
|
Stem is at times thick almost ½ inch in diameter especially in poor soils. Not markedly hairy. — Not observed creeping round plants. |
| Leaves — have prickles on red base at edges | Leaves: prickles absent — Leaves smaller (?). |
| Flowers — exstipulate | Flowers — with one stipule |
| Ovaries — with ∞6 ovules attached to axle placenta. | Ovaries — with 3 or 4 ovules attached basally & centrally. Pistil persists. |
| (?) | Seeds — three in each of 8 achenes |
| (?) | Seed Capsule — of a somewhat lunar Shape & persistent calyx necrose |
| Ovary or Pistil has sickly odour | Ovary or pistil has sickly odour |
& oblige
yours &c
John Reid
Dec 12 89
Hibbertia volubilis
Sydney Harbour.
Hibbertia volubilis.
Northern coast of NSW.
What follows is on a separate sheet.
A small diagram indicates anticlockwise twining: 89-12-12a_image01.jpg.
i.e. a large indefinite number.
MS found with a specimen of Hibbertia volubilis (MEL 1009850). MS annotation by M: 'Answ 14/12/89'. Letter not found. See also J. Reid to M, 11 December 1889.
Please cite as “FVM-89-12-12a,” 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