14/9/89
The handsome shrub, of which you sent me branchlets in flower, dear Mr Read, is the Eremophila oppositifolia. I should like much, to have seeds (ripe fruits) of it later in the season. Could any Amateur-Lady be induced to put into envelopes for me there all sorts of minute plants, either in blossom or in seed? Among them would be much rarity in a season like this, when the spring-vegetation has through much rain become so much developed. Floating and submerged weeds, if ever so small, would also be very valuable as material for my studies from a region like yours.
Regardfully
your
Ferd. von Mueller.
Eremophila oppositifolia
A specimen of Eremophila oppositifolia at MEL (MEL 0083571) from 'Darling's River', dated August 1889, shows the collector as 'J. D. Read'. Another specimen (Templetonia egena, MEL 564657), shown as collected in 1889 at Jerrigo [i.e. Jericho] Tank, between the Bogan and Darling Rivers, NSW, is attributed to 'J. Read'. The only person named Read of whom a record has been found of having been in the area at the time is James Charles Read, who was at Bedooba Station, south-west of Cobar; we here assume that he was the person to whom M was writing. He probably collected both specimens.
Please cite as “FVM-89-09-14a,” 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