Document information

Physical location:

RB MSS M1, Library, Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne. 83.02.21a

Plant names

Preferred Citation:

Archibald McDowall to Ferdinand von Mueller, 1883-02-21 [83.02.21a]. 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/1880-9/1883/83-02-21a-final.odt>, accessed June 4, 2026

1
MS annotation by M: 'Answ 28/2/83. Letter not found.
Queensland
Maryborough
21 Feby 1883.
My dear Baron,
Re the
Encephalartos Douglasii

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As far as I know it has no woolly substance on the base of the leaf stalks — but the young leaves (and indeed sometimes the older ones) have a tendency to spiral curvature, but slight — and not noticed until you asked the question —
I have examined three specimens only with this spiral growth in view — one is in my own garden & two others in a friends, but they all show a slight tendency, but very slight towards the corkscrew form — none of the 3 specimens examined are full grown —
"Coolbine" is the aboriginal name — and the aborigines often used the leaves to make temporary Gunyah's or mi-mias
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mia-mias.
— the leaves being inverted for the purpose except a few of the outside & top ones, i.e. the ones which are put on the top layer of thatch —
I think I shall be able to send you, soon, a specimen from the main land so nearly approaching the Fraser Island
3
Qld.
one that it will only be a botanist that will detect any difference — but I cannot promise definitely as I have lately been disappointed
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See also A. McDowall to M, 7 March 1883.
I should like to get a few of the extra prints of the description of the
Encephalartos Douglasii

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5
B83.02.01.
— if you can let me have them please
I remain
yours sincerely
A. McDowall
P.S.
In parts of Fraser Island — inland — there are extensive collections of
Zamia

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s — so much so that I dont think there is any danger of their extermination, for they have no economic commercial value, nor are they destroyed by fire — also they are heavy to carry & a little difficult of transportation
If a quantity of them were required, I should think they could be del[ivered] in Maryborough at 10/. each, but a less number than hundreds would cost more — but any reasonable number that you might want for scientific purposes I could probably send you almost free of charge.
A McD
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See also A. McDowall to M, 6 December 1882 (in this edition as 82-12-06a), A. McDowall to M, 4 January 1883, and A. McDowall to M, 17 January 1883.