You are quite correct in your surmises that the new perennial Australian Spinach was first brought by myself into culture, and first introduced by me into Europe. The plant was discovered by Sir J. W. Mitchell1 in his exploring travels, and described and named by my late friend, Professor Lindley, many years ago.2 During Mr. Gregory’s expedition in North Australia (1855-1856),3 to which I was attached as botanic naturalist, the plant was much used, on my recommendation, for food by the party; and I ascribe our freedom from scurvy largely to the use of this plant, which served us as vegetables mainly. The Chenopodium is very palatable and wholesome, and remarkable also as a perennial plant among allied species. It grows taller than most kinds of Chenopodium. In England it would succumb down to the root in winter, but likely spring again with the return of warm weather from the root. On early sowing it would likely produce seeds in the first autumn. The plant is more like Spinach in a boiled state.
Chenopodium
i.e. Thomas Mitchell.
In Mitchell (1848), p. 94.
North Australia Exploring Expedition, 1855-6.
Letter not found. The text given here was quoted in an article by ‘K.’, headed ‘The Australian Spinach, Chenopodium auriconium’ and published in Gardeners' chronicle, 21 February 1874, p. 252. The article begins as follows: ‘This does not seem to be so well known as it deserves to be, from the fact of its not often being seen in gardens. It is undoubtedly a very wholesome and palatable vegetable, and from its being a perennial should be a very profitable and substantial addition to our gardens. Baron Von Müller, in a letter to Messrs. Stuart & Mein, seedsmen, Kelso, says:—‘.
Please cite as “FVM-74-00-00c,” 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