The botanical collections of William Hann's Northern Expedition of 1872 to Cape York Peninsula, Queensland

Dowe, J.L. & Taylor, P.I. (2019). The botanical collections of William Hann’s Northern Expedition of 1872 to Cape York Peninsula, Queensland. Austrobaileya 10(3): 506–538. William Hann’s Northern Expedition, 26 June–12 November 1872, was primarily undertaken to explore for gold, minerals and pastoral lands, and to ascertain suitability for settlement in the southern Cape York Peninsula area. In addition to the primary objectives, both botanical and palaeontological specimens were collected. The official botanical collector for the expedition was Thomas Tate who collected on behalf of the Queensland Government under the direction of William Hann. A total of 81 specimens collected by Tate during the expedition have been located. In contrast, an ‘unofficial’ collection of plants was gathered by Norman Taylor, geologist for the expedition. A total of 68 specimens collected by Taylor have been located. Ten new taxa were established on specimens collected during the expedition. Largely, the expedition remains more of historical interest rather than a significant contribution to the advancement of botany in Queensland.