29/1/83.
In continuation of former communications on Cycadeae1 I wish to tell you, dear Mr Dyer, that I have at the Gov. photographic Office now a ripe female amentum of Macrozamia Douglasii for you.2 An account of this species will appear in the february Number of the Melbourne "Chemist",3 through which periodical I am endeavouring to inspire the now numberous Pharmac. Gentlemen all over Australia, to help in obtaining locally material for the completion of the Austr. "Flora".4 This Macrozamia, more even than M. Macdonnelli,5 shows the real transit to Encephalartos so far as the extreme abbreviation of its fruit-scales is concerned.6 Anatomical differences in the stems I have not S. Afric material to trace out. You will get nuts &c when dry.
The hon. J. Thurston has now sent me also some detached male scales of Cycas Seemanni,7 which if they are always of the same form show a great difference between them and those of C. [ci]rcinalis & C. Rumphii. These scales belong to the var. with globular nuts, and construct an amentum of 2 – 2½ feet length, but only 4 - 4½ inches width. Also this you will receive, as I have asked Mr Thurston for photographic purposes to send a complete ♂ cone.
I further asked him, to try to get the ♂ of the oval and larger fruited Cycas of Fiji, as that would lead to a crucial test for settling, whether one or two Cycas-species occur in the extensive Fiji-Group. My Papuan collections are for want of space not accessible this moment, as I must constantly make some shift or other, after being deprived of my house &c. When I can get at them, I will look up the Cycas Papuana for you.8 Dr Beccari ought to have specimens also. After the rejunction of Widdringtonia with Callitris, the geographic separation of genera of Gymnosperms breaks down.
Regardfully your
Ferd. von Mueller.
You will see a puerily article on the Melb. bot. Garden in Hayters Yearbook for 1881-1882,9 probably written by the Curator.10 A fine consolation to the poor selectors, to grow Ricinus-seeds for lubrication-oil in competition of Indian labor at 2d or 3d a day!11 I gave Ricinus-seeds away 30 years ago, to grow the plant for medicinal oil locally, and to have the leaves as a galactagogue. The German Missionary Rev. Mr Hagenauer obtained 20 years ago the roots of Canna edulis from me; and already years before the present Curator came here, the Natives of the Mission-Station of Mr Hagenauer prepared this kind of Arrow root by the ctws!12
This is what is proverbially called here "hoodwinking the people."
When will the fourth vol. of the Flora Capensis13 be out?
We are now witnessing here under Dr Rudall's hands the wonderful effect of the seeds of Abrus precatorius in ciliar Trichosis and for removing granulation without inoculation according to Dr de Weckers new method.14
Abrus precatorius
Callitris
Canna edulis
Cycadeae
Cycas circinalis
Cycas Papuana
Cycas Rumphii
Cycas Seemanni
Encephalartos
Macrozamia Douglasii
Macrozamia Macdonnelli
Ricinus
Widdringtonia
Please cite as “FVM-83-01-29b,” in Correspondence of Ferdinand von Mueller, edited by R.W. Home, Thomas A. Darragh, A.M. Lucas, Sara Maroske, D.M. Sinkora†, J.H. Voigt† and Monika Wells accessed on 28 March 2024, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/vonmueller/letters/83-01-29b