The correspondence of Ferdinand von Mueller: 29/3/76. ¶ ¶ You wrote to me, dear Mr Ramsay, about a Cycas allied to C. Normanbyana, of which — so I think — you exported seeds. I imagine it is the same as one, which I have since some months from ...

Document information

Physical location:

ML MSS.562, Letters to E. P. Ramsay 1862-91, Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales, Sydney. 76.03.29

Plant names

Cycas Cairnsiana
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- Australian Plant Name Index
Cycas Normanbyana
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- Australian Plant Name Index
Cycas media
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- Australian Plant Name Index

Preferred Citation:

Ferdinand von Mueller to Edward Ramsay, 1876-03-29. 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//letters/1870-9/1876/76-03-29-final.odt>, accessed June 4, 2026

29/3/76.

You wrote to me, dear Mr Ramsay, about a Cycas allied to C. Normanbyana, of which — so I think — you exported seeds. I imagine it is the same as one, which I have since some months from Lieut. Armit, who got it on Newcastle Range.

His has a long fruit stalk, but with only two nuts and nearly smooth, the apex much like in C. Normanbyana.

From this it differs as well as from C. media in the paleness, narrowness and recurvedness of the leaflets.

I have sent it as C. Cairnsiana to the press; you will find the name a proper one, as it brings the two Governors in contact.

M named Cycas normanbyana after George Normanby who was Governor of Qld, 1871-4, and C. cairnsiana after William Cairns who was Governor of Qld, 1875-7.

Perhaps you like to have the name, as in the trade named seeds are more valued than any without a well supported name. Of course I like to have your plant also, to confirm the supposed identity, and also to gain a fuller knowledge of its geographic range.

Yours regardfully

Ferd von Mueller