To Edward Ramsay   29 March 1876

29/3/76.

You wrote to me, dear Mr Ramsay, about a Cycas allied to C. Normanbyana, of which — so I think — you exported seeds. I imagine it is the same as one, which I have since some months from Lieut. Armit, who got it on Newcastle Range.

His has a long fruit stalk, but with only two nuts and nearly smooth, the apex much like in C. Normanbyana.

From this it differs as well as from C. media in the paleness, narrowness and recurvedness of the leaflets.

I have sent it as C. Cairnsiana to the press; you will find the name a proper one, as it brings the two Governors in contact.¹ Perhaps you like to have the name, as in the trade named seeds are more valued than any without a well supported name. Of course I like to have your plant also, to confirm the supposed identity, and also to gain a fuller knowledge of its geographic range.

Yours regardfully

Ferd von Mueller²

Cycas Cairnsiana

Cycas media

Cycas Normanbyana