JDH characterises himself to Asa Gray as a full throated critic. He often disagrees with his Father [William Jackson Hooker], who can be stuck in old ways of thinking, JDH stops him from publishing outdated views. They clashed over the JOURNAL [OF BOTANY] work, JDH is glad it is discontinued. JDH offers Gray species of Rubiaceae, he might bring them himself if he goes to the USA this year. Has consulted Huxley re. Gray's notes on vitality & offers his comments. Discusses his thoughts on dedoublement, at length, he has discussed the theory with [George] Bentham[GB] & does not consider it logical. Mentions Gray's work on Balanophoreae. Discusses in detail Dicotyledonous exogens & the hierarchy of flowering plants, enumerating the characteristics which should define the highest type. He thinks that the 'vegetable ladder' should be arranged by physiology of the reproductive organs with organic complexity secondary: this would elevate gymnosperms above Phaenogams. [Arthur] Henfrey has found the corpuscula[?] in Gnetum, he suspects the seeds take 7 years to ripen. JDH describes the development of Gnetum ovule during fertilisation. JDH is working on East India Company Assistant Surgeon competitive examination papers & Royal Society Report for [David] Livingstone's expedition. Comments that Gray has correctly described Sambucus fruit. Describes his observations on ovules in different plant genera & families: Viburnum, Caprifol[iaceae]. Conv[olvulaceae]. Aral[iaceae]. Umbelli[ferae]. Rubiaceae, with particular reference to raphe in Lonicerae. He suspects ovule structure will lead to affinities. He discusses his study of Chimonanthus, which he places nearer Monimiaceae & Annonads than Rosaceae, calycifloral characteristics being key. JDH thinks Cumming's Morinda is new. He is sending a fruit of Ceylon [Sri Lanka] Eupyrena. GB recommends his notes on Rubiaceae. Gray could send his notes on Timonius to the Linnean journal, JDH has not received the proof of Gray's Magnolia paper.
Asks whether botanists tend to record varieties more carefully in large genera or small genera.
Wants information on the ranges of varieties of a species compared to the range of the species.
No summary available.
List of close species taken from AG’s Manual of botany [1848].
Discusses the variation of species in large and small genera.
Thanks AG for his list of close species.
Laments the slow progress he makes with his book [Natural selection].
No summary available.
Self-fertilisation in Fumariaceae.
[CD note on bees’ visiting some members of Fumariaceae.]
No summary available.
Believes that, in Dicentra, Fumaria and Corydalis, flower structures are related directly to visits from bees. Flower stigmas generally are placed in the path of bees.
Has received paper from Wallace on natural selection; has sent abstract of his notions, with Wallace’s paper, to Linnean Society.
Species migration since the Pliocene. Effect of the glacial epoch. Present geographical distribution, especially similarities of mountain floras, explained by such migration; mountain summits as remnants of a once continuous flora and fauna.
Cross-fertilisation in Fumariaceae.
No summary available.
Wishes to know whether differences in constitution (such as disease susceptibility) are related to differences in complexion. "Liability to such a disease as yellow fever would answer my question in the best possible way."