The correspondence of Ferdinand von Mueller: ¶ You are quite correct in your surmises that the new perennial Australian Spinach was first brought by myself into culture, and first introduced by me into Europe. The plant was discovered by Sir J....

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74.00.00c

Plant names

Chenopodium
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Ferdinand von Mueller to Messrs Stuart & Mein, 1874 [74.00.00c]. 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/1870-9/1874/74-00-00c-final.odt>, accessed June 13, 2026

Letter not found. The text given here was quoted in an article by ‘K.’, headed ‘The Australian Spinach, auriconium’ and published in Gardeners' chronicle , 21 February 1874, p. 252. The article begins as follows: ‘This does not seem to be so well known as it deserves to be, from the fact of its not often being seen in gardens. It is undoubtedly a very wholesome and palatable vegetable, and from its being a perennial should be a very profitable and substantial addition to our gardens. Baron Von Müller, in a letter to Messrs. Stuart & Mein, seedsmen, Kelso, says:—‘.

You are quite correct in your surmises that the new perennial Australian Spinach was first brought by myself into culture, and first introduced by me into Europe. The plant was discovered by Sir J. W. Mitchell

i.e. Thomas Mitchell.

in his exploring travels, and described and named by my late friend, Professor Lindley, many years ago.

In Mitchell (1848), p. 94.

During Mr. Gregory’s expedition in North Australia (1855-1856),

North Australia Exploring Expedition, 1855-6.

to which I was attached as botanic naturalist, the plant was much used, on my recommendation, for food by the party; and I ascribe our freedom from scurvy largely to the use of this plant, which served us as vegetables mainly. The is very palatable and wholesome, and remarkable also as a perennial plant among allied species. It grows taller than most kinds of . In England it would succumb down to the root in winter, but likely spring again with the return of warm weather from the root. On early sowing it would likely produce seeds in the first autumn. The plant is more like Spinach in a boiled state.