To Miles Berkeley   12 August 1873

Melbourne

12/8/73

 

I have ventured, rev. Sir, to submit to you a few specimens of a Clavaria (an orange colored species) which devastes our grass fields and preys on Lolium perenne particularly. As this parasite was never noticed (as far as I am aware) before this season, I am inclined to think, that it came from abroad to us here. But as I have no means for mycologic connected studies, even if my time did admit of it, I have sought your kind opinion as that of the highest existing authority.1 I have to send you soon some little article as a Souvenir in acknowledgement of all your great goodness.

With regardful remembrance

Ferd. von Mueller

 

Clavaria

Lolium perenne

1
M was sent specimens of infected rye grass from Ceres (near Geelong, Vic.), and informed the Secretary for Agriculture that it was a clavaria. Letters not found: see 'Rural topics and events', Australasian , 16 August 1873, p. 24.

Please cite as “FVM-73-08-12a,” 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 25 April 2024, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/vonmueller/letters/73-08-12a