The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online

RECORD: Darwin, C. R. 1862.05.01. It is impossible to behold Bougainvillea speciosa. CUL-DAR49.74. Edited by John van Wyhe (Darwin Online, http://darwin-online.org.uk/)

REVISION HISTORY: Transcribed by Christine Chua and edited by John van Wyhe 1.2022. 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 volume CUL-DAR49 contains notes for Natural selection chap. 3 on 'On...organic beings occasionally crossing' or dichogamy.

[74]

May 1. 62. It is impossible to behold Bougainvillea speciosa, (Mr Turnbull) with wreath of beautiful pink involucres in groups with small flower in middle of each, so that whole looks at distance like gigantic flower with large stamens, & doubt the colour of petals of high use, - whether to attract insects or to respire more oxygen or for some purpose. Corolla long narrow tubular; stamens come way beneath the mouth & stigma again much lower - flower stem upright - much Honey probably requires insects, - allied to Marvels of Peru.

Dichogamy & Use Of Petals

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