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
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 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.
Citation: John van Wyhe, ed. 2002-. The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online. (http://darwin-online.org.uk/)
File last updated 2 September, 2023