Mueller / Müller, Clara Christine Maria (later Mrs Wehl) (1833 - 1901)

Born in Rostock, Mecklenburg, now Germany, 1833; died at Millicent, SA, 31 July 1901.

One of nine children, to a customs official, Friedrich Müller (1794-1835), and Louise née Mertens (1797-1840). In 1847, Clara migrated to SA with her sister Bertha and brother Ferdinand Mueller.

Clara collected MEL specimens (as 'Miss Mueller') in Bugle Ranges, 1848, and Barossa Range, (no date).

On 14 October 1853 in Richmond, Vic, she married a physician, Dr Eduard Wehl (1824-1876). They settled in Mount Gambier, and had fifteen children. Clara's husband, and at least three of their children including LOUISE, MARIE and META WEHL, also collected MEL specimens.

The family moved to Millicent in 1871.

Clara collected MEL specimens (as 'Mrs Wehl') at Lake Bonney, 1874, 1882; Mount Gambier, 1880; Mount Burr, 1881-1887; sources of Broughton River, 1894; and MacDonnell Bay (including algae), 1894.

Mueller named the genus Wehlia for Clara and her husband in 1876.

There are also Clara specimens (as 'Mrs Wehl') at AK.

Clara died at Millicent in 1901 aged 68.

One letter from Clara to Mueller, and one from Mueller to Clara survive.

M gave Clara copies of Schleswig-Holstein Meerumschlunger (1865), and The poetical works of Mrs Torrens M'Cann (1888).

Source: extracted from: Maroske, Sara and Vaughan, Alison (2014) 'Ferdinand Mueller's female plant collectors: a biographical register', Muelleria Vol.32 [consult for source references]
Portrait Photo: as Mrs Wehl, c. 1860s, from Apendix 1, Maroske, Sara and Vaughan, Alison (2014) 'Ferdinand Mueller's female plant collectors: a biographical register', Muelleria Vol.32