Ɛpsilon

From J. D. Hooker   6 July 1871

Royal Gardens Kew

July 6 /71

Dear Darwin

It is Zizania aquatica—(Canadian Rice)1   I thought that you grew it.

I did observe that Ophrys apifera fertilized itself—as you describe—& I think also O. lutea.2

I tried for expression, but the people are too civilized—& so taciturn & unpleasant with Christians, that their features were too constrained to make anything out of.— I really believe that the Moraines are the only points in my journey worth much.; except the negative results of no Alpines on the Atlas!3

I hardly like Lyell’s travelling about & feel very anxious & dissatisfied about him. Murchison’s condition shows how much may be accomplished by real Medical skill, & I do fear that the “sisterhood” will sacrifice our dear dear friend to their bigotry— I assume that he is in the talons of the Homeopathists—4

Rosamund Lyell5 comes here on Saturday, & I will make out & let you know.

Yours | J D Hooker

1
See letter from J. D. Hooker, 3 July 1871, and letter to J. D. Hooker, 5 July [1871]. Zizania aquatica is one of the two species of wild rice that grows in Canada.
3
CD had probably given Hooker a copy of his Queries on expression to take to Morocco (see letter to J. D Hooker, 28 March [1871]. On the absence of alpine flora from the Atlas Mountains, see Hooker and Ball 1878, pp. 230–1.
4
Hooker refers to Charles Lyell (see letter from J. D. Hooker, 3 July 1871 and n. 8, and letter to J. D. Hooker, 5 July [1871]). Roderick Impey Murchison had suffered a stroke in November 1870 from which he partially recovered, but he died of bronchitis in October 1871 (ODNB).
5
Rosamond Frances Ann Lyell was the daughter of Lyell’s brother Henry.

Please cite as “DCP-LETT-7851,” in Ɛpsilon: The Charles Darwin Collection accessed on 5 June 2025, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/dcp-data/letters/DCP-LETT-7851