Economic Botany Collections

The New Guinea Collection

Leaves and fibre

Catalogue no:	61287
Botanical classification:	FABACEAE Pueraria phaseoloides
Common name:	Batu (New Guinea)
Collector:	Sir W.M. MacGregor
Collection date:	10/03/1889
Donor:	Baron F. von Mueller
Geographical origin:	New Guinea
Information on the label:	Comm. Sir F. V Mueller 9/1889. Port Moresby. Root eaten boiled. Not in flower at present. Fibre seems to be excellent, long shrubby creeper.

Sir William MacGregor was an important figure in the British administration of New Guinea, leading the fledgling government from 1888 to 1898. Whilst in office, he devoted a good deal of his time to exploration of New Guinea. He established a system of government agents, later known as Patrol Officers and District Officers, to assist him in administration, and encouraged them to extend government influence by visiting different areas of British New Guinea.

Several of the items in Kew’s Economic Botany were collected by MacGregor or by his government agents. This leguminous plant found its way to Kew via Ferdinand von Mueller; Australia’s first Government Botanist and a life-long correspondent of William Hooker, the first Director of Kew Gardens.

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