Discusses WED’s growing interest in botany; would be grateful for certain observations.

Is much concerned about Horace’s illness.

Has sent Orchids MS to printers

and will work a little at dimorphism.

Thanks WED for eyeglass.

Reports on health of Horace and family matters.

Has finished Orchids.

Hooker has written about WED’s going to Kew.

Wants WED to forward dried Malaxis to G. C. Oxenden.

Has been dissecting Viola flowers.

[Letter from Emma Darwin to WED, verso p. 3.]

Leonard has scarlet fever; CD is sorry WED is unwell.

Discusses dimorphic plants, valerian and Erythraea. Would like to look at them; suggests WED draw up a paper on them.

Reports some observations on the fertilisation of wheat which WED might follow up.

Lenny [Leonard Darwin]’s illness.

Polymorphism in valerian and Lythrum salicaria.

Leonard’s illness.

Polymorphism in valerian and Erythraea.

Asks WED to send some specimens [of Lythrum?].

[Letter from Emma Darwin to WED on verso.]

Discusses Lythrum, "a really wonderful case"; asks WED to make observations and collect specimens; sends a diagram which shows what crosses he believes are fertile.

Would like George to watch bees visiting the flowers; wants some pods from different forms to compare shapes and count seeds.

Discusses a crossing experiment.

Has been counting the seeds in pods [of Lythrum?].

Gives advice as to whether certain meteorological observations would be worth making.

Asks WED to make some observations on differences in pods of Lythrum.

Thanks WED for observations on Lythrum.

Discusses family affairs.

Counted seeds by tens. Sends some.

Discusses his new microscope.

Found 27 flowers of Orchis latifolia and in 16 of them were dead flies of one particular kind.

Suggests sending plant specimens. Asks about visit of Emma and the boys.

WED’s travel plans; an insect he has observed on Orchis maculata.