User:Ambrosia10/sandbox

Clara Christine Maria Wehl (née Mueller) (1833 – 31 July 1901) was a German-born Australian botanist. She is known for her contributions to botany via her scientific collections in Australia. The genus Wehlia and the species Gigartina wehliae are named in her honour.

Early life
Wehl was born in Rostock Mecklenburg, now in Germany, in 1833. She was the daughter of Louise Mertens (1797-1840) and her husband Friedrich Müller (1794-1835), a customs official. Clara emigrated to South Australia in 1847 accompanied by her sister Bertha and brother Ferdinand Mueller.

Botanical collecting
In 1848, not long after arriving in Australia, Wehl collected botanical specimens in the Bugle Ranges. She also collected in the Barossa Range. In 1866 Wehl sent algae specimens collected near Mount Gambier to her brother while he was at the Melbourne Botanic Gardens. Wehl's algae specimen collecting assisted the research of other botanists including William Henry Harvey, Otto Sonder and Jacob Agardh. Wehl's botanical collecting extended over a period of at least 46 years.

Family
On 14 October 1853 at Richmond, Victoria Wehl married her husband Eduard Wehl (1823-1876), a physician. Her interest in botany and botanical collecting continued after her marriage. During her marriage Wehl gave birth to 15 children, at least three of whom would become botanical collectors.

Honours
The genus Wehlia was named in honour of Wehl and her husband. The algae species Gigartina wehliae is also named in her honour.

Death
Wehl died on the 31st of July 1901.