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73.10.00f

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Ferdinand von Mueller to the Gardeners' Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette, 1873-10 [73.10.00f]. 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/73-10-00f>, accessed September 11, 2025

1
Letter not found. The text given here is from an untitled article by 'M.J.B', i.e. M. J. Berkeley (Berkeley (1873a)), in the Gardeners' chronicle and agricultural gazette , 29 November 1873, p. 1596 (B73.11.07). It is dated to October as the latest likely date that it could have been sent to appear in this issue. The extract is introduced by
We have just received from Baron Ferd. Von Müller a very curious Fungus , which is doing great mischief to crops of grass in Australia Felix . It was accompanied by the following short notice, beyond which we have no details as to its time or mode of growth, or indeed as to the extent of the mischief of which it is the cause:
I have ventured to submit to you a few specimens of a
Clavaria

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(an orange-coloured species) which devastates our grass fields and preys on
Lolium perenne

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particularly. As this parasite was never noticed (as far I am aware) before this season, I am inclined to think that it came to us from abroad.
2
The extract from M's letter is followed by a discussion of the similarities of the fungus to others, reasons why it is not a
Clavaria

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, an illustration of its structure, the judgement that it was probably indigenous, and a name, the formal definition of which is given in a footnote: 'I saria graminip e rda , Berk. et Müll. — Aurantiaca gelatinosa, gracilis parce ramosa, deorsum matrice arcte involuta, — On leaves and stems of Lolium; Australia Felix.'