To Edward Ramsay   23 December 1882

23/12/82

As you rightly observed, dear Mr Ramsay, the "Dugong-grass" is a Zostera.¹ The specimens had much suffered through sweating on the way; but I hope, to fix the name of the species. It may be only a form of the European Z. marina L; but for critical comparison beyond the anatomy of the leaves we need well developed fruits in the basal sheets of the leaves.

The Euphorbia, which proves so dangerous to heards and flocks is E. Drummondi, and is only to be distinguished from the S. European E. chamaesyce by assuming a perennial root. Whereever it grows, the ground should be scarified, and Luzerne, perennial Clovers and perennial fodder-grasses be sown, the result of which will be the suffocation of the Euphorbia-weed. But as every thing in nature is ordained for some good, this noxious weed, when fresh contused, exercises a beneficicient² effect on carcinomatous sores by dressing them with the Euphorbia moistened with a little cold water, which all however should be done only under the direction of a competent medical practitioner and when the disease is beyond surgical operation. Dioscorides already used the E. Chamaesyce for similar purposes, also to remove induration arising on the cornea and duely diluted as a purgative. These and allied plants have perhaps come undeservedly into disuse.

With my best felicitation to the new year your regardful

Ferd. von Mueller.

Where did the Dugong Grass come from?

Euphorbia chamaesyce

Euphorbia Drummondi

Zostera marina