Refers CD to a paper which he ought to know: Ch. Fermond, "Faits pour servir à l’histoire générale de la fécondation chez les végétaux", Recueil des travaux de la Société d’émulation pour les sciences pharmaceutiques 3 (1859).
Requests that DO examine enclosed microscope slides of Acropera ovules, to confirm CD’s opinion that females are non-functional.
Can DO comment on disagreement between Robert Brown and John Lindley over the number of Acropera carpels?
O. Heer’s Atlantis theory vs CD’s hypothesis of a migration north during warm periods.
Trusts DO’s opinion on Acropera ovules.
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.
Discusses primrose ovules,
Atlantis paper [Nat. Hist. Rev. (1862): 149–70],
plant migrations;
Corydalis.
Encourages DO to publish his paper and put his name to it. [Paper apparently not published.] Concurs with his views on primordial nature of hermaphroditism.
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.
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 approves of Orchids; his work on American species confirms CD’s findings.
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.
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.]