RECORD: Darwin, C. R. 1879.07.14-1880.01.26. Spruce fir / Picea nordmanniana. CUL-DAR209.6.1. (John van Wyhe ed., 2002-. The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online, http://darwin-online.org.uk/)
REVISION HISTORY: Transcribed by Christine Chua and edited by John van Wyhe 12.2022. RN2
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-DAR209.6 contains materials for Darwin's book Movement in plants (1880).
[1]
July 14' 8º am 1879. Spruce Fir. no III
Only 3 lateral, 2 of them & the leader pinched with letter U. of zinc wire — one left standing, 8º above Horizon
Sept 8th 43º above
Oct 4th 36º with vertical— 54º above Horizon
Jan. 26 1880 34º with vertical — 36 º & 56º above Horizon & a little moved upwards— another shoot on same circle whorl pinched with wire now stands only 20º above Horizon.— Lower shoot on one stem more nearly horizontal also a lateral branch with 2 lateral & 1 leader all pinched, & one underlying shoot, extended 18º beneath horizon left unpinched: Jan 26th now stands 5º beneath Horizon
Picea Nordmanniana → Oct. 4th. 1879
Horse-shoe wire pinched on leader & 2 of the 3 lateral, which all 3 are extended almost horizontally & at equal angle.— Jan 26' 1880 no effect
(another Spruce did not act & shoot of 1 died with Picea pectinata no action)
(Abies communis = spruce─ picea Silver fir)
[calculations not transcribed]
[1v]
[diagram]
[1b]
July 14th 8º am Spruce Fir no IV.
Leader & 3 lateral pinched with zinc wire — 2 laterals removed pinched off, (for there were originally 5 laterals shoots in a circle— one left standing 36º above Horizon— Sept 8' 40º above Horizon!!!
Oct 4' 54º with vertical = 36º above Horizon
Jan 26' /80 60 — ie 30º above Horizon
Lateral Branch with 3 inclined terminal shoots all pinched an underlying one extending 38º beneath horizon left unpinched.— This shoot curved & drooping the basal part formed this angle of 38º.─
[1bv]
Spruce fir marked III V.
Sept 8' Leader & 4 Lateral all pinched — one unpinched — standing 9º above Horizon.
Citation: John van Wyhe, ed. 2002-. The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online. (http://darwin-online.org.uk/)
File last updated 26 January, 2026