Document information

Physical location:

ML MSS.562, Letters to E. P. Ramsay 1862-91, Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales, Sydney. 82.12.23

Plant names

Preferred Citation:

Ferdinand von Mueller to Edward Ramsay, 1882-12-23. 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/1880-9/1882/82-12-23-final.odt>, accessed June 4, 2026

23/12/82
As you rightly observed, dear Mr Ramsay, the "Dugong-grass" is a Zostera.
1
See E. Ramsay to M, 21 December 1882 (in this edition as 82-12-21b).
The specimens had much suffered through sweating on the way; but I hope, to fix the name of the species. It may be only a form of the European Z. marina L; but for critical comparison beyond the anatomy of the leaves we need well developed fruits in the basal sheets of the leaves .
The Euphorbia, which proves so dangerous to heards and flocks is E. Drummondi, and is only to be distinguished from the S. European E. chamaesyce by assuming a perennial root. Whereever it grows, the ground should be scarified, and Luzerne, perennial Clovers and perennial fodder-grasses be sown, the result of which will be the suffocation of the Euphorbia-weed. But as every thing in nature is ordained for some good, this noxious weed, when fresh contused, exercises a beneficicient
2
Spelling as in MS; the word has been broken at the end of a line after ‘benefici” and continued on the next.
effect on carcinomatous sores by dressing them with the Euphorbia moistened with a little cold water, which all however should be done only under the direction of a competent medical practitioner and when the disease is beyond surgical operation. Dioscorides already used the E. Chamaesyce for similar purposes, also to remove induration arising on the cornea and duely diluted as a purgative. These and allied plants have perhaps come undeservedly into disuse.
With my best felicitation to the new year your regardful
Ferd. von Mueller.
Where did the Dugong Grass come from?