[H.K., Blackwarry, Gippsland2— Baron von Mueller reports that the specimen of herb sent is from Lathyrus pativus,3 the Sacasse4 of Southern Europe. A note on this species will be found in Mueller's Select Plants, where he has drawn attention to the deleterious property of the seeds of this and some other kinds of Lathyrus. The hurtful principle is the cytisin, the same Alkaloids from which the poisonous quality of the Laburnum tree of our gardens are derived. This Alkaloid Is not developed in all species of Lathyrus, and vanishes in some of them by culture, but whether any such absolutely harmless varieties may relapse Into their normal natural state can only be found out through lengthened rural experiences.5]
Lathyrus pativus
Letter not found. The text given here is from 'Answers to correspondents. Specimen of plant', Leader, 31 March 1894, p. 5.
Vic.
Typesetter's error for Lathyrus sativus?
Typesetter’s error for 'Jarosse', the common name given by M in In B91.09.01, p. 252.
The details of the alkaloid are not given in the entry in B91.09.01.
Please cite as “FVM-94-03-00b,” 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