Document information

Physical location:

71.10.25

Plant names

Preferred Citation:

Ferdinand von Mueller to the Leader, 1871-10-25. 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//letters/1870-9/1871/71-10-25-final.odt>, accessed May 15, 2026

1
Letter not found. The text given here is from 'Correspondence: Take-all', Leader, 4 November 1871, p. 7 (B71.11.02). It follows a letter on 'Take-all', where the writer suggests that a plant he has seen growing in patches of soil where cereal crops have suffered from 'take-all' may be the cause of the disease. M's comment is introduced as follows:
Being unacquainted with the name of the plant alluded to, we forwarded the specimen sent to us to Baron Von Mueller, who has obligingly furnished the following information relative to it.— Ed
The herb transmitted to me for inspection is botanically known as
Gnaphalium Japonicum

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. It extends through the whole of Australia, except the hottest tropical regions, and I have traced it to the summits of our Alps. It ranges to New Zealand, and through some parts of India and China, and occurs also in Japan. In Australia and New Zealand it is like in Asia, truly indigenous, having been found in New Zealand by the naturalists of Captain Cook's expedition. I have failed to notice any disease on the specimens of this herb sent to me, and I cannot believe that it is in any way connected with the root-blight which has of late years made its appearance.
FERD. VON MUELLER
Melbourne Botanic Gardens, 25th October.