RECORD: Darwin, C. R. 1862.11.18. The fact proved by such a mass of evidence that crossing two individuals. CUL-DAR205.7.161. 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 volume CUL-DAR205.7 contains notes on hybridism, sterility and pigeons.


[161]

Nov 18/62/ The fact proved by such a mass of evidence that crossing two individuals long distinct, & probably longer kept distinct the better, adds to vigour & fertility of offspring, shows that there must be some excessively slight difference in pollen of every individual of same species. — Under unnatural conditions we find that the pollen gets so wonderfully altered (though effectual in itself) that as in Lobelia, Potato, Passiflora — Crinum &c the flower is quite sterile with its own pollen & requires that of another.

This throws flood of light on dimorphism & makes it not improbable (seeing the individual difference of pollen) that sterility may be selected to keep vars. distinct.


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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 9 May, 2023