RECORD: Darwin, C. R. [1881].10.07. Drosera. CUL-DAR52.F84. (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 10.2022. 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 folder CUL-DAR52F contains notes on the aggregation of chlorophyll bodies.
Drosera is the genus of plants known as sundews. These notes are for Darwin, C. R. 1875. Insectivorous plants. London: John Murray. (F1217) This is part of the notes in CUL-DAR52.F47-F68.
F84
(20)
Drosera
Oct 7th
Looked again at best slice in green young leaf (1) in Glycerine; all that I said true — endless spheres in epidermis & other cells — some still greenish— not one Ch. grain. It could be seen in some cases that large spheres due to union of small ones ― Some of the smallest spheres are not sphere but irregularly shaped. — Larger spheres solid for some are cracked — Whether Ch. grains always break up into small spheres seems doubtful — many swell & soften & blend together without this intermediate process. — I believe from cases in which gr. can be seen forming bars that they probably do aggregate without the intermediate condition— Some spheres with defined darker centre; this definition shows interval of time & so white zone round speres in tentacles.
In another green slice many good green spheres, with still many ch. grain & apparently naked particles of starch.
Citation: John van Wyhe, ed. 2002-. The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online. (http://darwin-online.org.uk/)
File last updated 7 January, 2026