BOTANY OF THE BELLENDEN-KER EXPEDITION. 
♦ 
Colonial Botanist's Office, 
Brisbane, 7tli October, 1889. 
SiE, — In accordance with your instructions in a letter dated 
1st June, that I should accompany Mr. A. Meston to the Bellenden- 
Ker Eange, and collect and report on the Flora of the district, I have 
the honour to report that I left Brisbane on the 4th June en route, 
and returned on the 5th September, bringing with me a large 
number of specimens, which will make a most valuable addition to the 
Herbarium. 
In the accompanying Eeport will be found a classified account of 
all the plants which could be identified from the Mulgrave Eiver to the 
summit of Bellenden-Ker, together with those of Bartle Frere and 
Harvey's Creek; the several localities being indicated by numbers. All 
new species are fully described, and descriptive and other notes given 
where such are required ; the native or common name is also given of 
the plant where sach could be obtained. No purely alpine plants 
were met with, which is scarcely to be wondered at, when the limited 
extent of the range is considered, the greatest altitude only just 
exceeding 5,000 feet above sea-level. Some of the most common plants 
of the summit are identical with those of the Brisbane district. The 
results of the expedition, however, from a botanical point of view 
have proved highly satisfactory; about thirty fresh plants have been 
added to the known Flora of Australia, equalling in number those added 
to the Flora of New Guinea by Sir William McGregor's late expedition 
to the Owen Stanley Eange, which is about three times the height of 
Bellenden-Ker, and proportionately extensive in area. It being 
winter, a large number of the trees and shrubs were without flower or 
fruit, consequently could not be identified. 
In the Eeport now submitted, with the exception of a few, all the 
Phaenogams with the Ferns and their allies are recorded. The large 
number of Mosses, Lichens, and Fungi which I collected will be 
arranged and forwarded to specialists with whom I am in communica- 
tion for final determination ; and amongst these I exj^ect will be 
found many additional species to those already known, which will be 
included in a future supplement to " The Queensland Flora." 
I have the honour to be, 
Sir, 
Your obedient servant, 
F. M. BAILEY, 
Colonial Botanist. 
The Hon. The Secretary for Public Lands. 
