Luehmann, Johann Georg (1843 - 1904)

He was born at Buxtende, near Hanover, Germany, and died at Melbourne, 18th November. 1904.

Luehmann was an excellent botanist, who entirely effaced himself during the lifetime of Mueller, and after that botanist's death began the publication of' "Reliquae Muellerianae" in the first paper of which he modestly stated that he was but dealing with specimens that had been accumulated by his distinguished predecessor. The sentiment does honour to him, and is an illustration of his innate modesty but it is not generally known that for 30 years before Mueller's death he was the latter’s right-hand man, and his services in the building up and critical examination of the National Herbarium, Melbourne, were very great. It would be impossible to write the history of the herbarium without giving Luehmann very great credit. He knew every handwriting on the Iabels, and there died with him a vast amount of valuable information in regard to it, for he had great reluctance to put the results of his knowledge upon paper.

Following is a list of his Publications (he published nothing during Mueller's lifetime):-
"Reliquiae Muellerianae: Descriptions of New.Australian Plants in.the Melbourne Herbarium” - Vict. Nat., xiii.,
Acacia, 111; Acacia Cuthbertsoni and A.palustris (Vict. Nat..,I17);
Eucalyptus.torquata (Vict. Nat..,147);
Eucalyptus corrugata (Vict. Nat.., 168).
"Observations on Xerotes sororia F.v.M, (Vict. Nat.., xiv., 147);
"Description of a new Australian Labiatae Plant (Hemigenia Macphersoni)" (Vict. Nat.., xv., 20);,
Some Observations on Pre-Linnean Botanists” (Vict. Nat.., 15., 50);
Descriptions of a New Lobelia from W.A. (L. Toppii),” (Vict. Nat.., xvii., 169) = (L..gibbosa, Labill.;
"A Short Dichotomous Key to the Hitherto Known Species of Eucalyptus” (Proc. A.A.A.S., vii., 523).

The following species commemorate him : -
Eugenia luehmanni, F.v.M.;
Eucalyptus luehmanniana, F.v.M.
Casuarina luehmanni, R. T. Baker;
Pultenaea luehmanni Maiden

Sources: Anon. (1904). The late J.G. Luehmann, F.L.S. Victorian Naturalist 21: 108-109.
Maiden, J.H. (1908). Records of Victorian Botanists. Victorian Naturalist 25:101-117