South-Yarra,1 15/1/95.
The honorable Sir William Clarke, Bart., LL.D., M.L.C. &c.
The thistle, of which you sent a specimen, dear Sir William, is the British Shore-Thistle (Carduus pycnocephalus). As it is flowering under ordinary circumstances only once from the same root, this plant can be subdued by cutting it down before seeding; but the cut portions need heaping together and being burnt soon afterwards, otherwise seeds might still mature from the cut plants.
Allow me to offer to her Ladyship and yourself and your florishing family a happy new year. May therefore the new annual span of time, on which now we have entered, be replete with joy to all of you!
With regardful remembrance your
Ferd. von Mueller.
The Thistle, which produces year after year off-shoots from its roots, is the European perennial Thistle (Carduus arvensis). It is often called the Canadian Thistle, but it is not a native of the western hemisphere.
Carduus arvensis
Carduus pycnocephalus
Melbourne.
Please cite as “FVM-95-01-15,” 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