To Edward Ramsay   18 April 1887

18/4/87.

 

No poison-cases from Tribulus terrestris are on record, dear Dr Ramsay, though the herbage of various species of the allied genus Zygophyllum proved deleterious as well in Australia as Africa to pastural animals, particularly sheep. The Tribulus terrestris with other congeners is widely dispersed over Australia as indigenous. Where it prevails, the seeds of the best native pasture-herbs and perennial good grasses should be collected and at the end of the hot season be strewn between the Tribulus, which useless weed would then be kept under to a great extent. Could your kind Brother1 send fruit-specimens (branchlets) of all the various Saltbushes near you, which can be got at any time of the year. I have to work anew on Salsolaceae very soon.

Regardfully

your

Ferd. von Mueller.

 

Salsolaceae

Tribulus terrestris

Zygophyllum

 
1
James Ramsay.

Please cite as “FVM-87-04-18,” 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 9 May 2024, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/vonmueller/letters/87-04-18