The correspondence of Ferdinand von Mueller: The yellow flowering herb sent from Glenroy ¶ is a Trefoil Sorrel, Oxalis corniculata, a perennial plant, wild in many parts of the globe. If it was consumed in large quantities by pasture animals it...

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95.09.00c

Plant names

Oxalis corniculata
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Preferred Citation:

Ferdinand von Mueller to the Leader, 1895-09 [95.09.00c]. 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/1890-6/1895/95-09-00c-final.odt>, accessed June 13, 2026

Letter not found. The text given here is from 'Answers to correspondents', Leader, 14 September 1895, p. 9 (B95.09.02). It is introduced by:

trefoil sorrel .— F. B., Glenroy, writes: "Herewith you will find a weed that grows in my paddock; can you please inform me if it is deleterious to cattle, and If so the best means to eradicate; does it grow both from seeds and bulbs?" Baron von Mueller favors us with the following:—'.

The yellow flowering herb sent from Glenroy

Vic.

is a Trefoil Sorrel, , a perennial plant, wild in many parts of the globe. If it was consumed in large quantities by pasture animals it might be hurtful, as it contains oxalate of lime and of other alkalis, by which inflammation of the digestive tract might be set up. Indeed, human poison cases have exceptionally occurred from this herb. Generally, however, the Oxalis is occurring only mixed so sparingly with other foliage and with grasses that no harm is done by this plant. If It abounds anywhere, then the ground might be ploughed up and sown with the seeds of strong perennial grasses and fodder herbs, the upgrowth of which would suffocate the Trefoil Sorrel, and would simultaneously increase the carrying capability of the pasture.