RECORD: Darwin, C. R. 1863.07. Primrose crossed by Cowslips & Polyanthus. CUL-DAR108.67-69. Edited by John van Wyhe (Darwin Online, http://darwin-online.org.uk/)

REVISION HISTORY: Transcribed by Christine Chua and edited by John van Wyhe 12.2022. 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).


[67]

July 1863 Primrose crossed by Cowslips & Polyanthus

Long-styled Primrose

By pollen of Cowslip (Long-styled) Heteromorphically

3 flowers crossed (white silk)

0

Long-styled Primrose

By pollen of Polyanthus Long-styled

H — Heteromorphically

5 flowers crossed (white thread)

22 finer seeds

31 do.

Homomorphically

3 flowers Black silk

13

7 small & poor

Homomorphically

5 flowers (black thread)

0

(Short-styled) Heteromorphically

3 flowers white silk

52 moderately good

50 do

40 do

0

Homomorphically Black silk

3 flower

22 0

(Short-styled) Heteromorphically

4 flowers White thread

28 very fine seeds

0 0 0 0

Homomorphically Black thr

4 flowers Black thr

18

20 12} splendid seed

0 0

These produced six plants

 

All together Heteromorphically

[data not transcribed]

average seed per pod 37.1

All together Homomorphically

[data not transcribed]

average seed per pod 13.0

/over

[67v]

There is chance that the short-styled may not be true; as it is difficult to castrated perfectly.

But I think experiment may be trusted as I find that no pods set naturally, except 2 on a half-monstrous plant which produced separated styles. —

There is no clear difference between Polyanthus & cowslip pollen. Perhaps cowslip pollen more effective —

The Results are oddly fluctuating as occurs with Hybrids so often.

If the crosses all true (if not accidentally crossed with own Primrose seed) then short-styled are more fertile with pollen of Cowslip & Polyanthus than long-styled,— for of latter 16 fl crossed produced 4 capsules, whereas 14 short-styled produced 6 capsules richer in seed—

[68]

Primrose crossed by Cowslip & Polyanthus

Bag 12 Long-styled Primrose

Black thread no pod + 4 Black thread.

Black silk 13 pod green seeds

do 7 green but longer

White thread 22 finer seed

do 31 do

1 Black silk 0

3 White silk 0

2 White thread 0

Bag 14 short-styled & 13

White silk 52. moderate greenish

Black do no pod

White silk 50

do 40

White thread 28 — real fine seeds

Black thread 20

do 12 splendid seed

2 Black Th 0

2 White Th 0

1 Black silk 0

Thread Polyanthus

Silk Cowslip.

Monstrous Plant 15 bore 2 wretched pods unfertilised

[68v]

[calculations not transcribed]

12 sh by artifi

16 sh Het say self — 4 capsules

14 sh. shortstyl — 6 capsule—

[69]

July 1863 Primrose crossed by

Long-styled Cowslip Heteromorphic Polyanthus Heteromorphically

(All Used)

[data not transcribed]

It is clear from other paper that Heteromorphic union more fertile than Homomorphic.


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Citation: John van Wyhe, ed. 2002-. The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online. (http://darwin-online.org.uk/)

File last updated 2 September, 2023