RECORD: Darwin, C. R. & Emma Darwin. n.d. Abstract of Duval, Bull. Soc. Bot. de France Tom. 10 1863. CUL-DAR111.A40. Edited by John van Wyhe (Darwin Online, http://darwin-online.org.uk/)

REVISION HISTORY: Transcribed by Christine Chua and edited by John van Wyhe 1.2023. RN1

NOTE: See record in the Darwin Online manuscript catalogue, enter its Identifier here. Reproduced with permission of the Syndics of Cambridge University Library and William Huxley Darwin. The volumes CUL-DAR108-111 contain material for Darwin's book Forms of flowers (1877).

See Forms of flowers, pp. 312-13.


[40]

Bull. Soc. Bot. de France Tom. 10 1863

p. 194 –

M. J. Duval — Jouve on Leersia, "The exertion of the panicle is an exception almost an anomaly & when exerted is entirely sterile.

p. 195. Schreber previously has stated that the panicle is sterile & if half exerted that part is sterile whilst the included half is fertile.

An American grass the Crypto-stachys vaginata resembles Leersia in the above respect.

Other exotic species of Leersia are not so, but L. oryzoides from Pennsylvania is so.

The exerted anthers are large and are filled with good pollen. The stigmas are also large. The inserted flowers is constantly filled with a viscid fluid which bathes the organs of reproduction. The anthers are small as are the grains of pollen & very few in number. The membranes of the pollen is very thin. All the included flowers are fertile.

[40v]

The most remarkable fact about the plant — is so far as exerted panicle they [2 words illeg] & sterile —

On my plant almost to run upward in one case, the plant did not open — at above case anther [illeg] on long [illeg] filament & produce an abundance of fine seeds.

I am aware in this opening a short [illeg] & might have been [illeg]by me, but had they opened &c both apex, the early anther not the long filament wd be fall out side.— Arachis — case is growing

or do not appear to be from above which seed was produced.

A a general rule there can be no doubt, that exerted panicle as may [illeg] & these then are giving [2 words illeg] the included [illeg] K. abundant fact — I sent seed to Mr Scott in Calcutta

See in the any sole Europe species & D. G. says other species of Leer do not [illeg] in the [illeg].— & it may be asked whether we have not in case hear of a plant

[remainder of document not transcribed]


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