[Several horses having died in the neighborhood of Wharparilla,2 from having, as is supposed, eaten a poisonous weed, specimens of it were sent to Baron von Mueller, who has determined the weed to be Crepis japonica, which has a wide range through Southern Asia, being here an immigrated plant. He says that although the generality of the species of Crepis in the northern hemisphere are harmless plants, yet it is quite possible that the Crepis japonica may share in the poisonous properties of the C. lacera of South Europe, which plant, when used as a substitute for salad, has proved most hurtful. The question whether 0. japonica is deleterious also could be set at rest by yarding up a calf or sheep and feeding such for a while exclusively on this Crepis, when any injurious effects would soon become apparent. As it is an annual weed, it can be subdued by preventing it from seeding, either by early cutting or timely pulling the plant and burning it in heaps at once, so as to prevent the forming of seeds even after the plants are out of the ground.]
Crepis japonica
Crepis lacera
Please cite as “FVM-88-04-00c,” 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