From Ferdinand von Mueller to the Weekly Times   [Nov 1893]

The four plants just submitted by you to my office, are: 1. Heliptirum corymbiflourum;¹ 2, Calotis scabiosifolia; 3, Helichrysum apitulatum;² 4, Colovepholus³ citreus. None of these are poisonous from any particula[r]⁴ chemical contents; but the Calotis may, nevertheless, have been the cause of the death of the cattl[e] at Gymbowen; because its seeds (or rather fruits) may with their spirmlous⁵ asperities cling to the mouth, tongue and throat of pasture animals feeding on this weed, whereby extensive local irritation and inflammation might be caused, and thi[s] would also take place in the digestive channels, should the Calotis fruits to any extent have passed on for alimentation: I would suggest, that any cows or other pasture animals, suffering in a manner at Gymbowen, be examined with a view of of ascertaining whether the mere suggestion made now by me will give a clue as regards the deaths among stock there. Failing this, I would urge that further search be made for any other weeds m the locality, which may appear suspicious. The Calotis is perennial. To subdue it, the ground where it abounds should be broken up, and be sown with the seeds of the best pasture grasses and perennial fodder herbs, concerning which farmers can get readily advised from my inexpensive volume on "Select Plants for Industrial Culture and Naturalisation,"⁶ obtainable at the Government Printing Office. The vigorous and close growth of such grasses and herbs would suppress the Calotis and other noxious weeds.

Calotis scabiosifolia

Colovepholus citreus

Helichrysum apitulatum

Heliptirum corymbiflourum