[One of the specimens was from a prickly plant bearing a small blue flower, and emitting an unpleasant smell. This plant spreads with cultivation. Baron von Mueller describes this as the Gilia pungeus1 from Western America. It is a decided nuisance to the farmer. The other specimen was the red flowering plant which appears on old pasture lands, and gives rather a pretty appearance to the field. This is the Australian Centaury herb. Baron von Mueller says] These Centaury herbs are pervaded by an intense bitterness, very much like that of gentian, but on that very account avoided by pasture animals. [Farmers, however, complained that their cows do eat the plant, and that the milk is made bitter in consequence. Baron von Mueller concludes—] As both plants are annuals, they can be got rid of if they are perseveringly cut or pulled before ripening seeds, provided that the plants thus cut or dislodged are immediately heaped together and burnt.
Gilia pungeus
Typesetter's error for G. pungens?
Letter not found. The text given here is from 'Farm items', Kyneton observer, 14 February 1893, p. [2]. It is introduced by 'By request of a well-known farmer we submitted two specimens of plants to Baron von Mueller for his advice, and received a very courteous reply by return of post'.
Please cite as “FVM-93-02-00,” 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