Document information

Physical location:

RBG Kew, illustrations collections, with image of Macrozamia spiralis. 82.02.16b

Plant names

Preferred Citation:

Ferdinand von Mueller to William Thiselton-Dyer, 1882-02-16 [82.02.16b]. R.W. Home, Thomas A. Darragh, A.M. Lucas, Sara Maroske, D.M. Sinkora, J.H. Voigt and Monika Wells (eds), Correspondence of Ferdinand von Mueller, <https://vmcp.rbg.vic.gov.au/id/82-02-16b>, accessed September 11, 2025

1
The letter is attached to a mounted photographic print, the mount of which contains the pencilled caption 'Port Jackson | duplicate recd June 19. 82 |
Macrozamia spiralis

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'. The date suggests that this print is more likely to have been sent with M to W. Thiselton-Dyer, 8 May 1882 (in this edition as 82-05-08a).
16/2/82.
Just on the mail-day, dear Mr Dyer, I received the first installment of photograms of
Cycadeae

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from the Lands Department, i.e., two plates on two sorts of paper, so that one can be coloured. The plates represent:
1, Male and female Amentum of
Macrozamia Moorei

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2, male and female amentum of
Macrozamia spiralis

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.
You will observe from the latter, which represents the Port Jackson common plant, that it is not Bauer's and Miquels species, so far as their plates are concerned,
2
Plates 4 and 5 in Miquel (1842), drawn by Ferdinand Bauer.
which are more in accord with M. Moorei & M. Douglasii, & M. Macdonnelii
What is now photographed, is Salisbury's plant,
3
Salisbury (1796), p. 401.
as regards locality , though this ver y plant extends to Moreton-Bay. However I shall go fully into this matter soon & let you know the result. My description of M. spiralis, fragm. I, 41,
4
B58.06.01.
you will find correct.
The superb photogram of M. Moorei will please you & Sir Joseph; it does not represent the very largest cones occurring, but one of average size; the ♂ is disproportionally small, while in M. spiralis they are more equal in size.
Possibly M. Moorei has the largest of cycadeous fruits, larger than that of any S. African
Encephalartos

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; but of that you will finally enlighten us. I send portions of leaf of M. Moorei by this post also.
Regardfully you[r]
Ferd. von Mue[ller]
5
The ends of the two valedictory lines are obscured where glued to the mount.
I wonder where Bauer figured his Z. spiralis.
6
Since M was aware of the plates (see n. 2 above), he is presumably wondering what specimen, labelled in his view incorrectly as
Zamia spiralis

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, Bauer drew.
Perhaps the Vienne Museum would tell. I will write to Dr. Kerner about it.
7
PS paragraph is in the centre margin of the back of the folio. Letter to Anton Kerner von Marilaun not found.