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95.04.00d

Plant names

Preferred Citation:

Ferdinand von Mueller to the Leader, 1895-04 [95.04.00d]. 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/1890-6/1895/95-04-00d-final.odt>, accessed May 14, 2026

1
Letter not found. The text given here is from 'Answers to correspondents', Leader, 27 April 1895, p. 13 (B95.04.09). It is introduced by 'Name of Plant.—C. G. T.— We submitted your specimens to Baron von Mueller, who replies:—'.
This plant has caused more deaths among pasture animals in our colony than any other plant, though it is so small and looks so insignificant. It is the native
Euphorbia Drummondi

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, and is widely distributed through the north-western regions of Victoria in arid localities, resisting heat and drought, and causing danger to cattle, particularly in summer and autumn, when grasses and other herbage are much shrivelled up. As it is a perennial herb, some difficulty exists in coping with it, all the more so, as it seeds copiously and the seeds germinate readily. The places where this Euphorbia abounds should be well and repeatedly broken up, then sown with perennlal pasture grasses and herbs, European as well as Australian local species of resistent powers, by which means the pasturage would be lastingly improved. If it is timely found out that any pasture animal is suffering from having browsed on this Euphorbia fresh milk should be copiously administered to mitigate the corroding effect on the mucous membranes of the alimentary track; some castor oil should also be given, and warm clysters with olive oil also administered. Stimulants might also be given to invigorate the animal system for throwing off the poison, while the evacuations are induced. Any successes by such means attained should be reported.