RECORD: Darwin, C. R. [1861-1862]. Draft of Orchids, folio 155. CUL-DAR110.A53r. 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: 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 record in the Darwin Online manuscript catalogue, enter its Identifier here.
Draft is in the hand of Ebenezer Norman with corrections by Darwin. The text of this draft corresponds to Orchids, pp. 98-9.(155
(155
Chapter III
The flowers project horizontally (fig. A) from the stem. The labellum is curiously shaped, as may be seen in the drawings: the distal half, which projects beyond the other petals and forms an excellent landing-place for insects, is joined to the basal half by a narrow hinge, and naturally (fig. A) is turned a little upwards, so that its edges pass within Fig the edges of the basal portion. So flexible and elastic is the hinge, that the weight of even a fly, as Mr. More has observed, depresses the distal portion (fig. B);but when the weight is removed, it instantly springs up to its former position, and with its curious medial ridges
Citation: John van Wyhe, ed. 2002-. The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online. (http://darwin-online.org.uk/)
File last updated 9 October, 2023