[The thistle-like plant of which you sent me a specimen1 is Centauria melifenio,2 the spurious Malta thistle. It is a native of the Mediterranean Sea, and, as it is an annual, the plant might become annihilated if cut before seeding, but the cut plants must be burnt at once, otherwise they might still ripen seeds while left on the ground].
Centauria melifenio
No explicit reference to a plant being sent to M has been found.
Typesetters error for Centaurea melitensis?
Letter not found. The text given here is from 'Correspondence' in the report of the meeting of the Avon Shire Council held on Monday 3 March 1890, in Gippsland mercury, 4 March 1890, p. 3. The Council met monthly, and the letter is dated to February as the most likely date it was written. It is introduced by 'From Baron von Mueller as follows:—'.
Please cite as “FVM-90-02-00f,” 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