Melbourne
2/10/75.
As you have taken such an interest, dear Dr Hooker, in bringing first of all the Dactylis caespitosa to Europe, I am anxious to ask you, whether it has proved of value anywhere extensively in Britain.
From early remarks of yours, it was thought that only places like the Shetland-Islands would be adapted for it. I am not aware that this Tussock-Grass has entered the pastures of Britain, but I may have overlooked notes to that effect. In my publication on industrial plants for the 2d volume of the acclim. Society2 I recommended this Grass for our alpine bogs here, being under the impression (from what you said) that it was not likely adapted for any of the hot lowlands of Australia unless perhaps forest regions. About 12 years ago already I asked the Governor of the Falklands Islands for a case full of this grass, which his Excellency kindly sent.3 But on the long way the Grass perished, nor did the transmitted seeds germinate.4
Latterly an enormous praise in public journals of Australia has arisen about the value of this grass for us, and from a German Nurserymans firm seeds were obtained by several parties here. As yet I have seen no flowering specimens; hence I cannot verify the grass; but I cannot reconcile the fact of its being held unsuited to the clime of Britain with the hope of any one to make it of general value to colonies with a summertime so hot and dry as that of Australia.
Regardfully
Ferd von Mueller
Dactylis caespitosa
Please cite as “FVM-75-10-02,” 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 27 April 2024, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/vonmueller/letters/75-10-02