30/3/81.
As you supposed, dear Professor, the herb, of which you sent a fragment, is Euphorbia pilulifera L., the Caiacica of the original Brazilians & the Erva dos Cobras of the Portuguese population there. The plant was known as a diuretic, and is (perhaps fallaciously) supposed to act against ophidian poison. Like all Euphorbias it serves as a caustic application externally; in ophthal1 even it has so been applied. The application of this herb in asthma and other diseases of the respiratory organs was until lately new to me; I believe the Chinese found out this, as the plant extends to their country, indeed to many of the tropical and subtropical regions of the globe. Its occurrence in Australia was first shown by me about a dozen years ago, when I got specimens from Rockhampton. I am however not quite sure, whether it is not an introduced herb, as I never saw it in North Australia and in the interior myself. Lately I have received it from Port Darwin & several other places. It is evidently a fast spreading weed.
With regardful remembrance
Ferd. von Mueller.
I lost part of the specimen in opening the letter.
Euphorbia pilulifera
ophthalmology?
Please cite as “FVM-81-03-30,” 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