Document information

Physical location:

RB MSS M1, Library, Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne. 79.04.23

Plant names

Preferred Citation:

William Bacchus to Ferdinand von Mueller, 1879-04-23. 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/1870-9/1879/79-04-23-final.odt>, accessed June 4, 2026

Dear Baron von Mueller
The enclosed plant was given me by Mr Morrison who said it was overrunning certain parts of the country near Geelong
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Vic.
and smothering the nutritious grasses It is apparently a plantago and indigenous, it is possible that stock and dry weather have overcome the grasses and that the former avoid this plant will you kindly examine it — I raised no plants of the seed of the Tussock grass you sent me A few plants of an Annual poa came up where the seed was sown have your heard of any tussock grass plants coming up from this seed — This locality is too cold I think for the Teo sinte grass to grow none of the seed you sent came up and the seed was good but I have a few plants of the
Tricolaena rosea

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i.e. Tricholaena rosea.
from the seed you sent they have not yet flowered — If you have any more of the seed of the Teo sinte (
Euchlaena luxurians

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) to spare I should like to have a little to send to a friend in Rockhampton I thought the Argus rather hard on your letter about the poison plant of New Guinea
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On 14 April 1879, p. 3, the Argus reprinted from the Sydney morning herald, without comment, M's letter to J. Jefferis, 3 April 1879. No subsequent comment has been found.
but great men must expect to be attacked now and then it is a penalty attached to their position — With kind regards in which Mrs Bacchus unites
I remain
Yours faithfully
W. H. Bacchus
Peerewur
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Bacchus's homestead near Bacchus Marsh, Vic.
23/4/79
Baron von Mueller MD