Locally known as the ‘musk plant’, from its delicate perfume, which appear to reside in the leaves and which is freely communicated to articles of cloth by simple contact. My father informs me that you have decided to erect this into a distinct species under the name Hypoestes moschata. It is no doubt very nearly related to H. floribunda R.Br. which however has not the least perfume. H. moschata so far as known has rather a restricted range upcountry while H. floribunda is very abundant about the Coast in the vicinity of Pt. Darwin and onward to the Daly River. Specimens enclosed (flowers and fruits) are from plants growing in this Garden.
Nicholas Holtze
Is there any probability of this plant becoming commercially valuable as an article of perfume.
Hypoestes floribunda
Hypoestes moschata
Please cite as “FVM-91-09-00l,” 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 28 April 2024, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/vonmueller/letters/91-09-00l