Document information

Physical location:

95.04.00c

Plant names

Preferred Citation:

Ferdinand von Mueller to William Marriner, 1895-04 [95.04.00c]. 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/1890-6/1895/95-04-00c-final.odt>, accessed June 13, 2026

1
Letter not found. The text given here is from 'Notes and events', in Colac herald, 12 April 1895, p. 2 (B95.04.03). It is introduced by 'There is a kind of burr grass springing up not only in this district but in various parts of the colony, and in order to ascertain some particulars concerning it, Mr W. Marriner, of Colac, forwarded a sample to Baron Von Mueller, the Government botanist, and the reply received from that gentleman is as follows—'. The same item was published the next day in Colac reformer , p. 2 (B95.04.12) under the heading ‘A New Pest’, and subsequently in several other regional newspapers.
The burr grass just received is the enchrus
2
Typesetter's error for Cenchrus echinatus?
echinatus, indigenous to various countries in the warm zones, but now making for the first time its appearance in this part of the world. Although annual only it is a most pernicious grass, as it seeds readily and thus would spread rapidly to the injury of pasture animals. In fruiting, its spinelets readily get detached, and cling to almost anything, enter fleeces easily, and hurt the feet of herds and flocks passing over the ground upon which the seeds (fruits) have been shed. I would strongly advise that this dreadful grass be destroyed at once where you saw it, and at any other place or places to which it may have spread already, a careful watch against it to be kept up during the next season also.