To J. D. Hooker   [13 June 1870?]1

Seeds ripened in Algiers: imported seed would be of no use.—

Iberis amara
— umbellata, especially any red var. as Kermiseana2
Nolana prostrata3
Hibiscus Africanus4
Canna Warzewizi5
Mimulus luteus, garden var. yellowish or whitish flowers, blotched with purplish-red or orange-brown.6

C. Darwin

mem

1
The date is conjectured on the supposition that the memorandum was handed to Hooker when he visited Down on 13 June 1870 (letter to St G. J. Mivart, 13 June [1870]). See also the letters to J. D. Hooker, 25 May [1870] and [29 June 1870], and the letter from J. D. Hooker, 10 July 1870.
2
The variety Kermesiana (as CD spells it in Cross and self fertilisation, p. 103), has not been identified. CD raised plants of a red variety of Iberis umbellata from seed bought in England, and crossed them with pollen from plants raised from seed sent from Algiers (Cross and self fertilisation, p. 105).
3
Nolana prostrata is a synonym of N. paradoxa, Chilean-bellflower. CD had carried out crossing experiments with N. prostrata in 1862 and 1867 (Cross and self fertilisation), but mentions no further experiments.
4
CD carried out crossing experiments with Hibiscus africanus (a synonym of H. trionum, bladder ketmia; Cross and self fertilisation, pp. 140–1), but did not mention using seed from Algiers.
5
Canna warszewiczii is now C. indica. CD carried out crossing experiments with C. warszewiczii (Cross and self fertilisation, pp. 230–3), but did not mention using seed from Algiers.
6
Mimulus luteus is a synonym of Erythranthe lutea, yellow monkeyflower. After the list and before the signature, Hooker wrote, ‘A little of each is enough.’

Please cite as “DCP-LETT-7210,” in Ɛpsilon: The Charles Darwin Collection accessed on 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/dcp-data/letters/DCP-LETT-7210