The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online

RECORD: Darwin, C. R. 1861.09.16. Dionæa. CUL-DAR54.62. Edited by John van Wyhe (Darwin Online, http://darwin-online.org.uk/)

REVISION HISTORY: Transcribed by Christine Chua and edited by John van Wyhe 5.2022. 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 volumes CUL-DAR 54-61 contain material for Darwin's book Insectivorous plants (1875).

[62]

Sept 16' 1861. Dionæa

I have made this little. That leaf behaves differently over fly than over cork &c or that when simply touched – as shown by length of time shut, – the two sides approximated & secretion of acid mucus.

There seems absorption as inferred from knowledge of caught matter & state of secreting glands.

Filaments & surface of leaf near Hair & body of leaf when cut sensitive.

Sensitiveness to delicate touch of airs & not to prolonged weight. Nor wind nor rain Not sensitive to absorption before touch.

Connected with endosmose as shown by sugar & water.

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