From David Boyle   4 January 1872

Nunawading¹ Jan. 4th/72

Dear Sir

I have found some of the tall Palm like tree ferns — in a deep Elivated Gully on the Eastern side of the Dandinong ranges the stems are thin at the thickest 3 inches in diameter near the ground narrowest not much thicker than your wrist the stem resembles that of Caythea² Excelsa and the Fronds similar they rise one above another alternately not in rings like alsophila — over the Fronds of one which may be a veriety as it was found in an other place was 7 or 8 feet in length and was Erict the other tender and not so long hanging down very graicefull — It was near-night and I had not time to eximen the Locality well But I saw 2 or three one was about 20 feet high and the other Higher — a small one I brought away with me I had to carry it 3 miles on my shoulder I do not think it Alsophila R.³ — or Lechhardiana⁴ nither is it the same Fern I sent you last

I firmly belive it to be a Caythea. It may be C. medullaria⁵ However I intend going up again nix week to try and get one or more in fructification  they look splindi

Your Respectfully

David Boyle

Baron Von Mueller Esq

Bot Gardens

please write me by Post

Alsophila Lechhardiana

Caythea Excelsa

Caythea medullaria