Document information

Physical location:

87.02.00

Preferred Citation:

Ferdinand von Mueller to Frederick Mandeville, 1887-02. 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/1880-9/1887/87-02-00-final.odt>, accessed June 13, 2026

1
Letter not found. The text given here is from a report of the meeting of the Belfast Borough Council on 9 February 1887, in Belfast gazette, 11 February 1887, p. 2. For a briefer report, see Minute book 9, 27 September 1886 - 24 September 1890, p. 49, VPRS 11097/P0001, Belfast Borough Council records VA 4030, Public Record Office, Victoria.
[The Town Clerk read a letter from Baron Von Mueller stating the specimen of thistle sent to him by S. T. Avery, Belfast,
2
Now Port Fairy, Vic.
was the true carduus lanceolatus, and gave some information as to the best method of destroying same.]
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The report continued:’ The specimen was the identical thistle which was placed in the hands of Mr McMeekin, who is an expert and had sworn to it being the carduus lanceolatus. The Mayor remarked that the letter was from one of the greatest botanists in the colony, and he considered the document was a very valuable one, and he was pleased to have it before the Council.' The Gazette went on to report a discussion of thistle cases in the local court. 'Cr Earle remarked that in future cases the better plan would be to obtain the services of Baron Von Mueller as a witness and then the offenders would have to pay the expenses'.
Carduus lanceolatus