Document information

Physical location:

96.09.00a

Plant names

Preferred Citation:

Ferdinand von Mueller to the Leader, 1896-09 [96.09.00a]. 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/1890-6/1896/96-09-00a-final.odt>, accessed June 13, 2026

1
Letter not found. The text given here is from 'Farm and station’, Leader, 19 September 1896, p. 9 (B96.09.07). It is introduced by 'White Charlock (Spurious Radish). — G.R., Numurkah,—The herb coming up amongst lucerne is, says Baron von Mueller,'.
the spurious wild radish of Britain (
Raphonus Rhaphanietrum

Search for Raphonus Rhaphanietrum in

).
2
Printer's error for Raphanus raphanistrum?
It is also known in England as White Charlock. It is an annual, so that it will disappear, if, by feeding off, the plant is prevented from seeding. The seeds serve as a substitute mustard. I saw immigrated plants of this more than 40 years ago in our colony and still earlier in South Australia.
3
A reply to a similar query from Brown, Corke and Co. from David Martin, Secretary of Agriculture, dated 15 September 1896, was received by G. Graham, MLA, and published in the Numurkah leader, 17 September 1896, p. 2. Martin supplied his information on the authority of 'the Government Botanist', saying
the weed is Raphanus Raphanistrum, or British spurious raddish, also called the "white charlock." It is an annual herb, fond of growing in fields among or after agricultural plants, and it can become an intrusive weed. But as it is an annual only, it can therefore be annihilated by preventing it from seeding. Sheep will feed off the plant after harvest of the crop among which it may occur. The seeds are used sometimes as a substitute for mustard.
No letter from M to Martin with this information has been found.