Document information

Physical location:

RB MSS M1, Library, Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne. 85.08.28a

Plant names

Preferred Citation:

Nikolai Miklouho-Maclay to Ferdinand von Mueller, 1885-08-28 [85.08.28a]. 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/1880-9/1885/85-08-28a-final.odt>, accessed June 10, 2026

1
MS found with Musa maclayi (MEL 588788). MS annotation by M: 'Beantw. 2/9/85' [Answered 2/9/85].
BIOLOGICAL STATION,
WATSON'S BAY.
Sydney, N.S.W. 28 August 188 5.
In grösster Eile
2
This has been written diagonally across the top left-hand corner of the page.
Hochgeehrter Herr Baron,
Ich werde die Freiheit haben und Ihnen die “ Correctur” meiner Liste zuschicken, mit der Bitte : einige Zusätze (falls Sie Zeit dazu finden!) nicht zu versagen! z.B. Ich möchte wissen, welcher Reisende vor mir (i.e. vor 1871) den
Piper methysticum

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von New Guinea mitgebracht hat? (Unter den Papuan Plants (pag. 98 Ihres Werkes über dieselben wird der Name P. meth. mit anzogen
3
angezogen?
).
Jede Zeile von Ihnen wird den wissenschaftlichen Werth meiner kleinen ethnologischen Notiz vermehren. Auch würde es jedenfalls äusserste interessant sein, Ihre Ansicht über die wilden Bananen Arten N. Guinea's sowie den wilden Sacharum offic. zu erfahren!
Einige Skizzen und die enormen
4
The small sketch included here is in the left-hand margin of the letter and has an arrow linking it to 'enormen' in the text:
Bananen Samen werde ich am Montag Ihnen zusenden, sowie die Correctur, sobald der Aufsatz gedruckt ist.
freundschaftlich grüssend
Hochachtungsvoll
N. de M. Maclay
BIOLOGICAL STATION,
WATSON'S BAY.
Sydney, N.S.W. 28 August 1885.
In the greatest haste
Highly esteemed Baron,
I will take the liberty and send you the proof of my list with the request not to refuse some additions (if you find the time for it)! e.g. I would like to know, which explorer before me (i.e. before 1871) has brought back
Piper methysticum

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from New Guinea ? (The name P. meth. is cited among the Papuan Plants page 98 of your work about them).
5
B77.13.02.
Any line from you will increase the scientific value of my small ethnological note. In any case it would also be highly interesting to ascertain your opinion about the wild banana species of New Guinea as well as the wild Sacharum offic.
6
Saccharum officinarum?
I will send you some sketches and the enormous
7
The small sketch included here is in the left-hand margin of the letter and has an arrow linking it to 'enormen' in the text:
banana seeds on Monday,
8
See N. Miklouho-Maclay to M, 29 August 1885 (in this edition as 85-08-29a).
as well as the proof, as soon as the article is printed.
friendly greetings
respectfully
N. de M. Maclay.
9
A small newspaper cutting is affixed to the MS and headed in Miklouho-Maclay's writing, with some underlining as shown probably also by him: ' At the meeting of Lin. Soc. of N.S.W. on the 26th Aug .'. It lists the first paper read at the meeting:
List of plants in use by the natives of the Maclay Coast, New Guinea . By N. de Miklouho-Maclay, with botanical remarks by Baron Ferd. von Mueller, K.C.M.G., &c. Baron Maclay in this paper gives — (1), a list of the plants used as food, dividing them into those cultivated and those growing wild; (2), those cultivated as stimulants , or for medicine ; (3), those useful in various ways for household purposes ; and (4), those introduced since 1871. An appendix, by Baron Mueller, gives an account of some of the plants mentioned by Baron Maclay, and gives a description of a new species named Bassia Maclayana.'.
M described the species in B85.04.01.