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From Nicholas Holtze to Ferdinand von Mueller   [Sep 1891]

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 father1 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

1

Maurice Holtze.

2

MS found with type specimen of Hypoestes moschata (MEL0601966A). MS dated on basis that M announced the name of this species in a paper presented to the Linnean Society of NSW on 30 September 1891. See also M to N. Holtze, 3 October 1891.

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 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/vonmueller/letters/91-09-00l