BOTANIC GARDEN
PORT DARWIN
SOUTH AUSTRALIA1
7th March 1892
Sir Ferd. Baron Von Mueller K.C.M.G. &c &c
Melbourne.
Dear Sir,
I examined again the scandent Bauhinia which you propose to call Holtzei2 but unfortunately it is not now in flower. I have made a note of your queries and will ascertain particulars in the proper time. The tendrils are numerous and used in fastening the plant to the vegetation around it. There is no question about it being scandet3 and it is in that respect quite distinct from B. Hookeri growing in the Garden, the leaves also are much larger than in that species but I have not been able to compare flowers as our plants of B. Hookeri have not yet flowered. The scandent Bauhinia I have only noticed growing in scrubs near the sea.
I will be able to examine flowers of Sida Holtzei in about a months time and will then write you full particulars.4 It grows naturally in the Garden.
The little verbenaceous plant sent you5 is of the natural size. It is most extraordinary how sparingly it fruits, thus partaking somewhat of the nature of Clerodendrum Holtzei. It is rather common in moist sandy soil. Corolla pure white, but while in the bud, the outside is tinged lightly with pink. Flowers without smell.
Heliotropium ventricosum seems to be represented here only by the form sent you.6
I can distinguish 3 species of Buechnera here, two seem to be referable to B. tetragona and B. tenella and do not vary at all here in any way, the third which I cannot recognise, is very common and rather variable and has also a well marked creeping variety. Specimens of all these have been sent you, but if you like I will get fresh examples.
I hope shortly to be able to compare the flowers of the two Monochorias.7
Enclosed please find a few seeds and in separate parcel some bulbs.
Yours truly
Nicholas Holtze
Bauhinia Holtzei
Bauhinia Hookeri
Buechnera tenella
Buechnera tetragona
Clerodendrum Holtzei
Heliotropium ventricosum
Monochoria
Sida Holtzei
The Northern Territory was annexed to SA when the Colonial Office removed it from the administration of NSW by Letters Patent signed by Queen Victoria on 6 July 1863, and remained so until 1 January 1911 when it was surrendered by SA and became a territory administered by the Commonwealth of Australia (see https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/Publications_Archive/online/NTConstitutionalMilestones).
See M to N. Holtze, 12 December 1891.
scandent?
See M to N. Holtze, 12 January 1892, and M to N. Holtze, 16 January 1892 (in this edition as 92-01-16b). See also M to N. Holtze, 26 March 1892.
See M to N. Holtze, 12 December 1891.
See M to N. Holtze, 12 December 1891.
See M to N. Holtze, 12 January 1892.
MS annotation by M: 'Answ 23/3/92'. Letter not found.
Please cite as “FVM-92-03-07,” 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