In reference to your questions, I would remark that I received Lobelia pratioides as far back as 1848, from the vicinity of South Esk,1 and recognised it rightly as a new species which I named L. epiloides, in allusion to its great resemblance to various small species of Epilobium. Having, however, here no access to R. Brown's original collections for comparison with his species, and finding in this, like in many other instances, the diagnosis of the 'Prodromus' too short for identification,2 I never published this particular Lobelia. Mr. Bentham having in London the advantage of being able to consult R. Brown's original material in the British Museum, named the species pratioides, in allusion to its affinity with the genus Pratia,3 which latter indeed forms only a section of the genus Lobelia. All Lobeliae are more or less poisonous—some intensely so—the main active principle being an alkaloid Lobelin, in therapeutic effect similar to Nicotin, although not quite so powerful as the latter. If, in seasons of drought, or at times of scarcity of pasturage, the Lobelia should anywhere prevail, the horses, cattle, or sheep may browse on it so extensively as to be poisoned. So it is with Solanum nigrum. A small quantity of the herb of that plant among other pasture food may not be hurtful to the animals, but as it is a weed which readily disseminates itself, it may at times become frequent, and so be the cause of death among pasture animals. Some regard the berries, when perfectly ripe, as not hurtful, but many poison cases by Solanum nigrum are on record, and I have warned people not to make use of the fruit of this suspicious or dangerous plant. Very possibly the poisonous principle—Solanin—may not always be developed, just as in many other instances a poison herb may become occasionally almost inert under particular circumstances of soil and clime. Gastrolobium bilobum, Lotus Australis, and various other plants, have given me instances of this kind.
Epilobium
Gastrolobium bilobum
Lobelia epiloides
Lobelia pratioides
Lotus Australis
Pratia
Solanum nigrum
South Esk River, Tas.
R. Brown (1810).
Bentham (1863-78), vol. 4, p. 131.
Letter not found. The text given here is from 'Poisonous plants', a letter to the editor from S. Hanaford dated 16 May 1873, Mercury (Hobart), 20 May 1873, p. 3 (B73.05.02). The extract is introduced by Hannaford as follows: 'SIR,— Deeming it desirable, in the interest of our flockowners, to have some reliable information as to the plants which are said to prove so injurious to cattle—viz., Lobelia pratioides and Solanum nigrum—I forwarded to the Baron Von Mueller the paragraph which appeared in your issue of May 7th, with my own remarks thereon. I now subjoin an extract from his letter in reply:—'. Hannaford's letter to M not found.
Please cite as “FVM-73-05-00a,” in Correspondence of Ferdinand von Mueller, edited by R.W. Home, Thomas A. Darragh, A.M. Lucas, Sara Maroske, D.M. Sinkora†, J.H. Voigt† and Monika Wells accessed on