RECORD: Darwin, C. R. 1863.12.03-1864.01.25. Tropæolum tricolorum. CUL-DAR157.1.81. Edited by John van Wyhe (Darwin Online, http://darwin-online.org.uk/)

REVISION HISTORY: Transcribed by Christine Chua and edited by John van Wyhe 4.2023. RN1

NOTE: See record in the Darwin Online manuscript catalogue, enter its Identifier here.

The volumes CUL-DAR157.1-2 contain notes, abstracts etc. for Darwin's long paper and later book Climbing plants (1865). It was also commercially available as a softbound offprint, F834, F834a. See R. B. Freeman's bibliographical introduction. Items CUL-DAR157.1.11-60 were in a folder marked "Twiners". Items CUL-DAR157.1.61-112 were in a folder marked "Leaf-climbers" and items CUL-DAR157.1.114-147 were in a folder marked "Tendrils". Reproduced with permission of the Syndics of Cambridge University Library and William Huxley Darwin.


[81]

Tropæolum elegans tricolorum. Dec. 6th 63.

In Hothouse

Thin shoot from bulb, without leaves, twined round stick & moved reverse of watch, in Hothouse

10°. 14' to 11°. 32' = 1°. 18' (very near not certain)

1°. 53' to 3. 15' = 1° 22'

― to 4°. 45' = 1°. 30' (third circle)

Stem excessively thin, like thick Bristle naked but here & there lateral fibres, coloured like stem. — Either branches or peduncle of leaves with leaf not developed—

These tendril-like bodies are sensitive to touch & yet straight again, & clasp stick, slightly enlarged at tip see William

Dec. 8th. one of these tendrils has caught new stick. —

[81v]

The lower tendrils die off & drop without expanding when plant old & secure. Plant certainly twines; not so well as proper climber, because caught at intervals by tendrils.— Now, (Jan 25') leaves are beginning to develop; but I much suspect heat has prevented leaves developing— Leaves according to Lenny has independent movements;— the stem being fixed above & below by tendrils — Leonard found a peduncle which completed circle in 6'— must have moved much quick— Two methods of ascent L. saw movement in 3'.—


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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 19 July, 2023