The correspondence of Ferdinand von Mueller: ¶ [Baron Von Mueller writes that Mr. ¶ Ch. Creswell ¶ , of Sydney, ¶ states that he recently found, near Port Jackson, a female cone of M. spiralis, which tapered at the top into a male portion to ...

Document information

Physical location:

92.06.00a

Plant names

Macrozamia spiralis
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Preferred Citation:

Ferdinand von Mueller to the Gardeners' Chronicle, 1892-06 [92.06.00a]. 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/1890-6/1892/92-06-00a-final.odt>, accessed June 13, 2026

Letter not found. The text given here is from 'Monstrosity of ’, Gardeners' chronicle, 6 August 1892, p. 161. It is dated to June 1892 as the latest likely date that it could have been sent to be printed in this issue.

[Baron Von Mueller writes that Mr. Ch. Creswell, of Sydney,

Probably Charles Frederick Creswell (1855-1916) who was the manager, from 1880, of the Sydney branch of the seed merchants C. F. Creswell, a business founded in Hobart by his father, Charles Frederick Creswell (c1826-1895) and later extended to Melbourne and Sydney. From the mid-1870s the Sydney branch specialized in cycads and tree ferns.

states that he recently found, near Port Jackson, a female cone of M. spiralis, which tapered at the top into a male portion to 8 inches long.

No communication from Creswell has been found.

He did not observe it at once, and afterwards could not find it again.]

The item continued: 'We are familiar with similar changes in Conifers, but have never met with them in Cycads. The interest would be so great that we trust Mr. Creswell will be able shortly to rediscover his plant.'