Ferdinand von Mueller

1

Letter not found. The text given here (B73.04.05) is from 'The sheep bush of Cape colony' in 'Notes and Queries', Australasian, 5 April 1873, p. 439. The letter follows a letter dated 30 August 1872 from J. C. Dunn of Kenhart, Cape Colony, to the Zoological and Acclimatisation Society of Victoria, 'to bring prominently under the notice of your society the valuable qualities possessed by a small "bush" growing on the northern border of the Cape Colony'.

From the description, dear Mr. Le Souef, given in Mr. Dunn's letter it is utterly impossible to say what South African bush (scientifically defined) he refers to. I fancy, however, that it is the

Pentzia virgata

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, about which in my select plants I have given some notes.

2

B72.13.02, p. 348.

It has no affinity whatever to the Riverina saltbush, and I enclose a fragment of this plant from my museum, which, for identification, might be sent to Mr. Dunn. I have the plant in culture, but it will be many years before it produces a sufficiency of progeny, and from them a large quantity of seeds, so as to be effectually disseminated over our pastoral districts. Whatever plant Mr. Dunn refers to, he and the gentlemen whom he indicates might send us a large quantity of seed for distribution among the squatters. I imagine that this one is not the only kind of fodder bush to be introduced from South African countries, because the genus Pentzia itself contains eight species, and allied genera contain many other plants; … If the fodder bush to which Mr. Dunn refers is not the Pentzia, then he might send a dried specimen in a letter with the view of my settling the name.

Melbourne Botanic-garden, 10 / 1 / 73.