Justifies his use of term "degraded" by comparing contrivances for cross-fertilisation in different species of Viola.
Dislikes the use of the term "degradation" as applied to the closed flowers of Viola species. Species with such self-fertilising flowers also have flowers adapted for crossing. The development of closed flowers adapted to ensure a sufficient stock of seed is progressive.
Thanks CD for lesson that it is wrong to call any plant which lives and thrives "degraded".
Speculates on the function of the separate stamen of papilionaceous flowers.
THF’s view, if confirmed, pleases CD in that what appears a mere morphological character is found to be of use. Carl Nägeli has been attacking him on this head.
Will work on papilionaceous flowers since CD encourages it. Discusses function of hairs in certain plants.
Asks CD’s opinion of a paper he has written on papilionaceous flowers.
Federico Delpino’s book has very nearly all that THF has found and a great deal more.
Sympathises with THF at being forestalled by Delpino, but urges him to publish confirmation.
On the fertilisation of Tacsonia and Passiflora.
Encloses a poem, "The Biological Teleologist", written after reading Delpino.
Sends notes on observations of Passiflora and Tacsonia; Hooker thinks they would be worth reading at Linnean Society.
Comments on notes made by THF on Passiflora and Tacsonia. Suggests he examine more species. Recalls his own observations on P. princeps and Tacsonia.
Observations on Passiflora.
Hildebrand on geraniums.
Sends a "guess" about Mimosa leaf structure as an answer to one of CD’s questions.
Has found a Passiflora princeps.
Encloses extract from a letter from Fritz Müller about humming-birds visiting Passiflora, "as a caution about Passiflora in contrast with Tacsonia".
[Signed with CD’s name by Emma Darwin.]
Agrees that it is wise to delay [publishing?] on Passiflora.
Puts queries he wants CD to send [to Fritz Müller] on bees visiting flowers in winter.
Encloses part of letter from Fritz Müller on Passiflora, with seeds.
Is endeavouring to have included in next census a question as to whether the parents in each household are cousins.
On death of his wife. Botany a solace.
Not discouraged by F. Müller’s Passiflora.
Observations on insects visiting barberries.
Fertilisation of barberries.
Passiflora.
Is continuing his experiments on the comparative growth of crossed and self-fertilised plants.