23/1/79
Could you oblige me dear Mr Buchanan,1 by procuring for me specimens of the New Zealand Zannichellia with male flowers, the only specimen, which I possess is in ful fruit. Doubts have arisen in my mind, whether the N.Z. plant is really referable to Lepilaena, as I supposed; because I have recently found a genuine Zannichellia in East Gipps Land. I am anxious to compare this now critically with the several species of Zannichellia, now known from different parts of the globe, and I could absolve your one on the same occasion.
There is also a floating water-plant in one of your northern rivers, of which I have only seen a flower, but no leaves and fruits, which needs comparison with Brasenia, the flower is comparatively large & showy. Perhaps you know the plants.2
Regardfully your,
Ferd. von Mueller3
Brasenia
Lepilaena
Zannichellia
Please cite as “FVM-79-01-23,” 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