From Joseph Maiden to Ferdinand von Mueller   10 Mar 1893

TECHNOLOGICAL MUSEUM, SYDNEY.

MEMO. from the CURATOR to

10th March 1893

Dear Baron von Mueller,¹

I beg to invite your attention to what appears to me to be an undescribed plant. It is a most beautiful tree, and if you decide it to be new, it would be a most suitable one to bear Lord Jersey's name. I supply all the information available to me, arranged in historical order, and you know the uncertainty there has been in regard to it, because the material has never been previously completed.

I have had the fruits for years. Afterwards in 1886 I got Mr Hagman, an artist then in the employ of this museum, to make enlarged drawings of the twigs on the Richmond River, but he could not complete it, in absence of flowers. Before Bäuerlen went on the Richmond I directed his particular attention to the plant, and have had a good deal of correspondence with him on the subject.

Yours truly,

J. H. Maiden.²

I now send flowers of this tree, usually known as "Red Apple" on the Richmond River.

As they are so difficult to properly observe in the dried state, I requested Mr Bäuerlen to make a drawing of them from absolutely fresh specimens. His drawing is herewith, and also some dried flowers. ³ I have examined the flowers, and confirm the correctness of the drawing.

The flowers are green, inconspicuous, and appear to have been never previously collected.

Whether it will turn out to be a Decaspermum (Nelitris) is a matter for your decision. I have looked at Forster's figure of the genus & have glanced as⁴ Gaertner's diagnosis but have not come to a definite conclusion.

But the indefinite stamens & shape of anthers would at once throw it out of Memecylon, and therefore abolish (if it ever had any standing in science), the name M. cerasiforme.

If it be a Decaspermum it must be a new species, as it cannot be D. paniculatum, Baillon.

1862.

Nelitris ingens F. Muelr. Myrtaceae. Cobun Bun of aboriginals. Richmond River.

This singularly handsome tree occurs on nearly all the branches of the Richmond, and always on its immediate banks; it is chiefly remarkable for its bright red Guava-like fruit, which is borne in terminal bunches in great quantities; fruit edible but astringent; timber not used.

(C. Moore, in N.S.W. Catal: London: Exh: 1862).⁵

1866.

Specimens of a tree from the Clarence River, Beckler & Wilcox, and from Richmond River, C. Moore, in fruit only and bearing F. Mueller's MSS name of Nelitris (?) ingens, may possibly belong to a Memecylon, although unlike any species known to me. The leaves are penniveined, not unlike those of Eugenia myrtifolia, but rather larger & not dotted. The fruits are in cymes, either terminal or in the upper axils, globose, very hard, about 1 in: diameter, marked with the scar of the calyx-limb. Seed 1 only, globular. Embryo thick & hard, the cotyledons very complicately folded and contortuplicate as in Memecylon. (Flora Australiensis, iii. 294).⁶

1870.

Memecylon sp Brush Cherry. Clarence & Richmond Rivers

This is a handsome tree, remarkable for its bright-red, guava-like fruit, which it bears in great quantities; timber little known at present.

(C. Moore, Catalogue of N.S.W. timbers Intercolonial Exhib. Sydney, 1870).⁷

[Evidently called a Memecylon by Mr Moore on seeing Bentham's remarks in the Flora.]

1884.

Memecylon cerasiformis. Cherry. Red Apple.

(no author given but probably C. Moore, but with no published diagnosis).

A singularly handsome tree, tall and straight, with a clear bole of 50 to 60 feet and a diameter of 2 or 3 feet, the head rounded; leaves opposite, pinnately veined, coriaceous, the mid-rib prominent; flowers small, in axillary clusters or cymes; fruit a berry, bright red, guava-like, edible, borne in terminal clusters. Habitat, brush forests near banks of creeks on the Richmond River.

(Arvid Nilson, Timber trees of N.S.W.).⁸

N.B. Both Memecylon & Nelitris ignored in Moore's Census of N.S.W. plants (1884).

Notes.

The flowers of the so-called Memecylon cerasiformis are not described in Nilson's book (1884), and a description of them appears never to have been published.

1886.

Memecylon cerasiformis Red Apple. Red Cherry.

Timber firm, elastic and durable; used for staves, palings and shingles. Brush forests, northern coast districts, moderately plentiful.

Diameter 2-4 feet.

Height 40-60 feet.

(Forestry Branch N.S.W. Catalogue of timbers, Colonial and Indian Exhibition 1886, p. 229).⁹

1891. (June)

Red Apple.

This is a magnificent tree especially when in fruit, the rich red or vermillion of the fruit contrasting so beautifully with the dark green leaves. The fruit has a pleasant acid taste, and many people get very fond of it. As far as I have seen now the tree reaches a height of 120 ft and a diameter of about 3 ft. It appears the timber is never used, and I have so far not learnt yet what objections the timber getters have to it. (Bäuerlen)

1891 (Nov)

Unless the Red Apple does not flower every year, there ought to be no difficulty in obtaining the flowers, for last year the trees were literally covered with fruit offering a splendid sight when the fruit was ripe. (Bäuerlen)

1892 April

Although I shall still look out for flowers of the "Red Apple", yet I am afraid it will be too late for this season as it appears that the end of December and January is its proper flowering time, though of course, as with many other species there is always a chance of obtaining a few stray flowers almost at any time. (Bäuerlen)

Decaspermum paniculatum

Eugenia myrtifolia

Memecylon cerasiforme

Myrtaceae

Nelitris ingens