From Ferdinand von Mueller to the Australasian   [Nov 1895]

["H.W.P."¹—The herb you have sent has kindly been identified by Baron von Mueller, who states that it grows indigenously in countries at or near the Mediterranean Sea. Its systematic name is Bartola² latifolia; it is related to the British bartola odontites, and like that plant not regarded as poisonous. Nevertheless it has some strong ingredients, so that formerly these kinds of plants were used in medicine. If this herb, which readily becomes gregarious, should grow in spring so abundantly anywhere as to shut out much of other vegetation, it may possibly become harmful to pasture animals. Anyhow, It is not a desirable acquisition, as herds and flocks would not like it; and as it therefore stands in the way of better pasturage, what often before has been recommended applies also to this case, to sow after scarifying the ground, or turning it over, the seeds of strong perennial grasses and fodder herbs if the land is pastural. If it is agricultural, repeated turning of the soil may be required, or an early-developing strong crop to overpower, and thus annihilate such kinds of annual weeds.]

["X."(Romsey³).—The plant you send, Baron von Muller says, Is the amsinkia⁴ angustifolia from Western America. It is regarded as an annual, at all events only of short duration individually, but may readily spread, as by the bristlets of its foliage it clings to garments and fleeces, and is thus readily carried about. It belongs to a tribe of plants which contains no actually poisonous species, but it may be objectionable entering skin or wool of pasture animals.⁵]

Amsinkia angustifolia

Bartola latifolia

Bartola odonites