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RBG Kew, Kew correspondence, Australia, Mueller, 1871-81. ff. 334-5. 81.10.18a

Plant names

Preferred Citation:

Ferdinand von Mueller to William Thiselton-Dyer, 1881-10-18 [81.10.18a]. 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/1880-9/1881/81-10-18a-final.odt>, accessed June 5, 2026

18/10/81.
It is pleasing and encouraging to me, dear Mr Dyer, to learn from your kind letter just received,
1
Letter not found. The arrival of a 'large stem of Macrozamia (Encephalartos) Mooreana' and seeds of the same from M is noted in the Kew Inwards Book 1878-1883 (RBG Kew, Kewensia), p. 326, entry no. 293, 30 August 1881. See M to W. Thiselton-Dyer, 28 May 1881, and M to W. Thiselton-Dyer, 5 September 1881.
that the
Zamia Moorei

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2
Name not in IPNI. M is often inconsistent in his letters in the use of the generic names of these cycads. His publications show his changing formal views on the generic limits. In B58.06.01, p. 41, he transferred Zamia spiralis to Macrozamia and described under his own name Macrozamia preissii, and M. denisonii authored jointly with Charles Moore. in B81.03.01 he described M. moorei, but soon after placed it, without explanation, in Encephalartos (B81.06.01). His formal description as E. moorei was published in B81.08.03, p. 125, before this letter was written. In his Census of genera, B82.01.06, p. 44, M recognised Cycas, Bowenia, and Encephalartos (which incorporated Macrozamia, Arthrozamia, Lepidozamia, Catakidozamia and part of Zamia). He maintained this position in the two editions of his census of species, B83.03.04, (pp. 109-10), and B89.13.12, (p. 184), yet continued to use Zamia and Macrozamia in his letters. For example, he used Zamia dyeri in his letter to W. Thiselton-Dyer, 13 May 1890, although he had described presumably the same species as Encephalartos dyeri in B85.06.02, p. 12. In M to R. Etheridge Jr, 14 December 1895 (in this edition as 95-12-14a) he listed Macrozamia spiralis despite having said that the names of plants in his list of species 'utilized by the aborigines' are 'in accord with the Second Census' (B89.12.03).
stem safely arrived. I hope Sir Joseph's & your gladness to get the stem for growing purposes, will not be marred; at all events I have written to the most accessible locality, to learn for what price an other and still larger stem could be brought to the next Port. Unfortunately the sundry expenses, arising in obtaining large stems & roots of any plants for transit in a living state are enormous here. Thus the getting of the large Todea for Schwerin cost about £30" - - which comes out of my slender & heavily taxed private resources.
You will have seen in the last number of the fragm.
3
B81.08.03, p. 125, under Macrozamia moorei.
that the stem of Z. Moorei exceptionally attains a height of 20 feet; Z. Denisoni
4
No published use of this name has been found (APNI, IPNI, accessed 1 July 2020).
gets occasionally taller still, and
Cycas media

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will get as high some time as the masts of a good-sized Schooner!
I seek a honor in it, to share still to a small extent in horticultural work by export of mine and shall always think of Kew, when occasion arises. I have placed myself at once in correspondence with reliable Gentlemen
5
Letters not found.
to get Photograms also of tall individuals of
Cycas media

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, Z. Denisoni, & Z. Moorei & Z. Fraseri. The others are smaller or so similar, so that it will not be worth while to go to any expenses about them in this way.
Regardfully your
Ferd. von Mueller.
I asked for photograms of the whole plant & of the ♂ & ♀ cones.
6
See M to W. Thiselton-Dyer, 15 March 1882 (in this edition as 82-03-15c) and notes thereto.
Some Indian sp. of Cycas get also enormously tall!
I was the first who exported Cycas stems anywhere in a living state.