Ferdinand von Mueller

1

Letter not found. The text given here is from 'Australian salt bushes', Gardeners' chronicle , 4 May 1895, p. 559 (B95.05.01). It is introduced by 'Baron von Mueller writes:—'.

Two of the Salt-bushes, described as

Atriplex nummularia

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and A. halimoides by Dr. Lindley, have mainly through my efforts become widely established in Africa. Professor Lindley, my generous patron, described them from Sir Thomas Mitchell's collections.

2

As notes to Mitchell (1848), p. 64, and Mitchell (1838), vol. 1, p. 282, respectively.

The English colonists have carried these two Atriplices from Capeland

3

i.e. the Cape Colony, South Africa.

to beyond Transvaal, and the French colonists have brought them from the shores of the Mediterranean Sea to the Sahara and Senegal country by abundant gathering of seeds from the first plants raised. The importance of these shrubs cannot be over-estimated in regions free from severe frosts, particularly on somewhat saline soil, and in regions with little rainfall. Where (in the more central parts of Australia) these two Salsolaceous plants occur, the best merino wool is produced, the flocks need less water on account of the succulent foliage of the Atripices, and the hottest winds do not burn up these plants. I introduced both long ago also into Argentina,

4

See M to the Sociedad Rural Argentina, 10 February 1871 (in this edition as 71-02-10a)

the Southern States of North America, and several other countries.