the spurious wild radish of Britain (Raphonus Rhaphanietrum).2 It is also known in England as White Charlock. It is an annual, so that it will disappear, if, by feeding off, the plant is prevented from seeding. The seeds serve as a substitute mustard. I saw immigrated plants of this more than 40 years ago in our colony and still earlier in South Australia.3
Raphonus Rhaphanietrum
Letter not found. The text given here is from 'Farm and station’, Leader, 19 September 1896, p. 9 (B96.09.07). It is introduced by 'White Charlock (Spurious Radish). — G.R., Numurkah,—The herb coming up amongst lucerne is, says Baron von Mueller,'.
Printer's error for Raphanus raphanistrum?
A reply to a similar query from Brown, Corke and Co. from David Martin, Secretary of Agriculture, dated 15 September 1896, was received by G. Graham, MLA, and published in the Numurkah leader, 17 September 1896, p. 2. Martin supplied his information on the authority of 'the Government Botanist', saying
the weed is Raphanus Raphanistrum, or British spurious raddish, also called the "white charlock." It is an annual herb, fond of growing in fields among or after agricultural plants, and it can become an intrusive weed. But as it is an annual only, it can therefore be annihilated by preventing it from seeding. Sheep will feed off the plant after harvest of the crop among which it may occur. The seeds are used sometimes as a substitute for mustard.
No letter from M to Martin with this information has been found.
Please cite as “FVM-96-09-00a,” 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