From G. C. Oxenden   31 May [1862]1

Broome

May 31

Dear Sir

I have just sent you two or three specimens of—Aceras. A. &—Hypopithys— which I found this Morning,2 whilst seeking for “Lizard Orchis”—of which last however I only found 3 Plants—3

—In regard to the Mysterious disappearance of rare plants from localities, wherein they may previously have been abundant, I humbly submit that it admits of satisfactory explanation—4

Your’s most truly | G. Chichester Oxenden

CD annotations

1.1 I have … Hypopithys—] ‘Monotropa?’5 added in margin, pencil
1
Dated by the relationship to the letters from G. C. Oxenden, 26 May 1862 and 30 May [1862].
2
Oxenden refers to Aceras anthropophorum (a synonym of Orchis anthropophora), the man orchid, and Monotropa hypopitys (a synonym of Hypopitys monotropa subsp. monotropa ), pinesap, a saprophytic dicotyledon that resembles an orchid. See also letter from G. C. Oxenden, 4 June [1862] and n. 8.
4
Oxenden probably refers to his correspondence with CD about Ophrys arachnites (a synonym of Ophrys fuciflora, the late spider-orchid), CD’s side of which has not been found, but see the letters from G. C. Oxenden, [before 30 May 1862] and 30 May [1862].

Please cite as “DCP-LETT-3581,” in Ɛpsilon: The Charles Darwin Collection accessed on 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/dcp-data/letters/DCP-LETT-3581