The correspondence of Ferdinand von Mueller: [A number of sudden deaths amongst stock have recently occurred near Dandenong, ¶ Vic. ¶ and it was thought the animals had been poisoned by eating a plant known as the wild parsnip. The Chief Inspec...

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Physical location:

87.12.00j

Plant names

Didiscus pelosus
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Preferred Citation:

Ferdinand von Mueller to Edward Curr, 1887-12 [87.12.00j]. 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/1880-9/1887/87-12-00j-final.odt>, accessed June 16, 2026

Letter not found. The text given here is from Herald (Melbourne), 13 December 1887, p. 2. The report was reprinted in Warragul guardian, 16 December 1887, p. 3, while a slightly differently worded report appeared in ‘Agricultural notes', Leader, 17 December 1887, p. 9.

[A number of sudden deaths amongst stock have recently occurred near Dandenong,

Vic.

and it was thought the animals had been poisoned by eating a plant known as the wild parsnip. The Chief Inspector of Stock, Mr. E. Carr,

i.e. Curr.

obtained some of the weed and had it analysed by the Government botanist, who reports that it is didiscus pelosus

Typesetter's error for Didiscus pilosus?

and is poisonous, the roots especially so. It rapidly kills stock, and can only be got rid of by pulling up.]