From G. C. Oxenden   13 July [1862]1

Dear Sir

One or two chances yet remain, namely with

—Epipactis latifolia

—Epipactis purpurata—2

If you wish any work done with either of these, please write—& put the words

“to be forwarded” upon the Envelope—as I am leaving home—

E. latifolia is a very pleasing handsome plant—

—I hope your domestic tribulations are disappearing 3

Sincerely | G. C. Oxenden

Broome | July 13.

1
The year is established by the relationship between this letter and the letter from G. C. Oxenden, 4 June [1862] (Correspondence vol. 10).
2
Oxenden had promised to send specimens of Epipactis latifolia (a synonym of E. helleborine) and E. purpurata as well as E. palustris to CD (see Correspondence vol. 10, letter from G. C. Oxenden, 4 June [1862]). No further letter from Oxenden on E. purpurata has been found, but in Orchids, 2d ed., p. 102, CD cited Oxenden for the information that E. purpurata was frequented by ‘swarms of wasps’; see also ‘Fertilization of orchids’, p. 150 (Collected papers 2: 147).
3
In his letter of 21 June 1862, Oxenden had recommended a treatment for Leonard Darwin, who was ill with scarlet fever (see Correspondence vol. 10, letter from G. C. Oxenden, 21 June 1862 and n. 1).

Please cite as “DCP-LETT-4565,” in Ɛpsilon: The Charles Darwin Collection accessed on 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/dcp-data/letters/DCP-LETT-4565