Document information

Physical location:

85.08.00a

Plant names

Preferred Citation:

Ferdinand von Mueller to the Weekly Times, 1885-08 [85.08.00a]. 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/1880-9/1885/85-08-00a-final.odt>, accessed June 9, 2026

1
Letter not found. The text given here is from 'Correspondence. A poisonous plant', Weekly times, 8 August 1885, Farmers Gazette supplement , p. 3 (B85.08.02). It is introduced by
TO THE EDITOR OF THE WEEKLY TIMES
Sir,— I have enclosed you a herb which is believed by the residents of this district to be poisonous, killing sheep if they eat it. I keep sheep, and there is a quantity of this weed growing in my paddock; so if you can inform me through your valuable paper whether it is realty poisonous or otherwise, you will greatly oblige
A CONSTANT HEADER.
Ulupna west, 24th July.
We submitted the specimen to Baron von Mueller, who kindly supplied the following information:—'
The small herb sent for classification is
Euphorbia Drummondi

Search for Euphorbia Drummondi in

, closely allied to the South European and Asiatic
Euphorbia Chamaesyre

Search for Euphorbia Chamaesyre in

.
2
Typesetter's error for Euphorbia Chamaesyce?
It is unquestionably a poisonous plant, like all other Euphorbias; indeed, many losses occurred among pasture animals at various places from this weed, for, although it is so small, it occurs often through dissemination in abundance. The acrid effect of the sap of this Euphorbia, on sheep particularly, is seen too late generally to be combated by any antidotes such as mucilaginous and oily liquids. It is therefore best to break up the ground where this Euphorbia abounds, and to sow it with strong and nutritious permanent grasses and fodder herbs, which would keep the Euphorbia under. A slight interspersion of this weed among good pasture plants would generally not prove hurtful; but when in times of drought or in the cold season herbs and grasses fail, particularly on over-stocked runs, the herds and flocks resort to such an extent to this hardy and enduring Euphorbia as to cause the death of many of the animals.
3
The Weekly times (19 December 1885, p. 1) used the information in this letter when commenting on an outbreak of sheep poisoning by Euphorbia drummondi in the Murrumbidgee district of NSW.