The correspondence of Ferdinand von Mueller: It has been known — in South Africa, at all events — for the last few years that the Homerias are deleterious to pasture-animals there, but that danger to herds or flocks may arise from these unsuspic...

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Physical location:

92.11.00

Plant names

Homeria aurantiaca
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Irideae
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Preferred Citation:

Ferdinand von Mueller to the Gardeners' Chronicle, 1892-11. 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/1890-6/1892/92-11-00-final.odt>, accessed June 9, 2026

Letter not found. The text given here is from 'Poisonous properties of ', Gardeners' chronicle, 10 December 1892, p. 706 (B92.12.01). It is dated to November as the latest date that it could have been written to have been printed in this issue. It is introduced by ' Baron Sir Ferd. v. Mueller writes:—'.

It has been known — in South Africa, at all events — for the last few years that the Homerias are deleterious to pasture-animals there, but that danger to herds or flocks may arise from these unsuspicious-looking plants beyond their native country has now only been ascertained. has shown itself as easily naturalised and as apt to spread in the colony of Victoria. Near Melbourne, cattle died lately on pastures infested with this plant.

See 'The mortality amongst cattle at Pascoevale', Argus, 22 October 1892, p 7.

It does not seem that the generality of South African are hurtful; but as the Homerias are favourite garden plants, it would be well that horticulturists in climates where the Homerias will grow in the open air should be warned, so that these dangerous do not get free scope to stray away from gardens. Indeed, it would be best to discard them as ornamental plants in any country not having severe winters.

The same text was printed in 'Horticultural notes', Sydney mail and New South Wales advertiser, 21 January 1893, p. 122 (B93.01.04). It is probable that the text was taken from the Gardeners' chronicle, as well as an item on Chrysanthemums from p. 700 of the same issue that was printed, with an acknowledgement of source, immediately before M's item on Homeria.