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From Charles Musson to Ferdinand von Mueller   24 Mar 1890

Tamworth. N.S.W

March 24 /90

Dear Sir/

I went up mountains for more specs. of the Vitis augustissima. F.v.M. ? No 642 & send them on in separate parcel not waiting to dry them.

It occurs climbing over Bushes up a Mountain Gully at a height of about 1800 ft. above sea. — The Plants reaching a height of 10 to 15 feet, in other places spreading as a thick mat over low Bushes. one Plant is rooted within 2 feet of a stream of water (always water to be obtained by digging), whilst other plants were high up on spurs of the Mts. far away from water. for 6 months Rain has been plentiful but the locality could not be considered other than Dry. shaded however to a great Extent ½ the Day. Fruits I enclose. They are simply Green. occasionally slightly tinged with Red at Base. —

No 645. Vitis clematidea. F.v.M. I will try & secure ripened seed during the next few weeks, for you. Colour of Fruit when ripe. Black. a few Enclosed.

No 646. Brachychiton Delabechei. F.v.M. plants are 3 or 4 in number only. young. & no sign of flowers or fruits, will look out for latter.

No 655. Ficus Eugenioides. F.v.M Habit — very Irregularly branched, hardly any main stem. Roots & Branches spring from a swollen portion of Stem (a sort of Crown) on Rock Surfaces. Roots running down face of Rock 3 to 6 feet, often choosing Cracks to follow, until reaching the Sloping Surface of Earth in front of Rock. Stem Irregularly branched Immediately from Crown of Aerial Roots. height from 20 to 30 feet. Expanse of Branches 30 to 35 feet. Leaves crowded at Ends of Branchlets, consequently spread out on the Periphery of the Tree. occurring sometimes in Groups of 2 or 3 & then forming a more compact mass of Foliage than when occurring singly.

In future, all plants shall be dried before sending.

with kind regards and assurances of Profound respect.

Believe me Sir

Yours most Sincerely

Chas. T. Musson1

Baron F. von Mueller, F.R.S. &c

Melbourne

P.S. Fruit of Ficus when ripe a Deep Fiery red, spotted with pale Yellowish spots.

Brachychiton Delabechei

Ficus Eugenioides

Vitis augustissima

Vitis clematidea

1

MS is accompanied by two virtually identical notes by Musson: 'Native Wild Flowers from N. S. Wales &c Chas. T. Musson Tamworth Jany 1890'.

2

MS found with a specimen of Cissus opaca (MEL 2241631), from Peel River, NSW.

Please cite as “FVM-90-03-24a,” 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/90-03-24a