Cites descriptions of melastomads in C. V. Naudin, Annales des Sciences Naturelles 3d ser., vols. 12–18.
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The Charles Darwin Collection
The Darwin Correspondence Project is publishing letters written by and to the naturalist Charles Darwin (1809–1882). Complete transcripts of letters are being made available through the Project’s website (www.darwinproject.ac.uk) after publication in the ongoing print edition of The Correspondence of Charles Darwin (Cambridge University Press 1985–). Metadata and summaries of all known letters (c. 15,000) appear in Ɛpsilon, and the full texts of available letters can also be searched, with links to the full texts.
Cites descriptions of melastomads in C. V. Naudin, Annales des Sciences Naturelles 3d ser., vols. 12–18.
Now believes flowers of Fumariaceae must be self-fertilised.
Planning a piece on dimorphism in the Natural History Review ["On the two forms, or dimorphic condition, in the species of Primula … by Charles Darwin", n.s. 2 (1862): 235–43].
Observations on Campanula dimorphism.
DO’s observations on polymorphism in Primula and Campanula. CD recognises three classes of dimorphism, as in Primula, Thymus, and Campanula and violets.
DO’s Campanula paper and Royal Institution lecture [Not. Proc. R. Inst. G. B. 3 (1858–62): 431–3].
CD’s interest in Fumariaceae from A. Gray’s comments on "selfing".
Bees bite holes in flowers when same species grows in high density.
Organisation of CD’s notes.
Requests Oxalis acetosella, which he suspects is dimorphic.
Distinguishes two kinds of floral dimorphism: that affecting sexual organs and that affecting outer envelopes.
Thanks for Oxalis. Only experimentation will show whether disproportion of long- to short-styled flowers is a functional dimorphism.
Case of aestival flowers is very curious.
Thanks for Orchids.
Asa Gray approves of Orchids; his work on American species confirms CD’s findings.
Describes floral anatomy of a Catasetum sent by DO.
Has gone on from orchids to studying insect agency in Pelargonium.
His doubts on the worth of publishing Orchids.
Asa Gray has a self-fertilising Platanthera, like the bee orchid. CD believes problem of the latter will some day be explained. Speculates [Ophrys] arachnites may be crossing form and bee orchid self-fertilising form of the same species.
Cytisus adami is a puzzle.
Pleased if DO will review Orchids [Nat. Hist. Rev. n.s. 2 (1862): 371–6] .
His review of Primula paper was capital. [Nat. Hist. Rev. n.s. 2 (1862): 235–43].
Requests peloric plants.
Sends orchids from W. H. Gower.
Cares more for dimorphism now than for orchids. Today saw the three forms of Lythrum, which means there should be 18 different practicable crosses.
Exciting work on trimorphism in Lythrum salicaria. Requests Lythraceae from Kew.
Wants to know of plants other than Melastoma and Lythrum with coloured pollen.
Performed a large number of Lythrum crosses before leaving home.
Working on Drosera for amusement. Has tried effect on plants of vegetable substances active on animal nervous systems, e.g., opium; makes Drosera inactive for hours.
Sends flowers with anthers of two colours.
Has given directions to save seeds of Lythrum hyssopifolium.
CD’s diagram of Lythrum salicaria is very remarkable. [See Collected papers 2: 107.]
Asks DO to name enclosed Lythrum received from CD’s sister-in-law [Sarah Elizabeth Wedgwood]
Discusses primrose ovules,
Atlantis paper [Nat. Hist. Rev. (1862): 149–70],
plant migrations;
Corydalis.
Requests Linum, for dimorphism study.
Reviewer of Orchids [Nat. Hist. Rev. n.s. 2 (1862): 371–6]is correct about the organisation of the book; he wonders who the reviewer is.
Examined Epilobium 20 or 30 years ago at Shrewsbury. In a flash remembered it as dimorphic, but had forgotten its name.