RECORD: Darwin, C. R. 1873. Watch-glasses each with 1/2 dr of water. CUL-DAR56.1-8. (John van Wyhe ed., 2002-. The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online, http://darwin-online.org.uk/)
REVISION HISTORY: Text prepared and edited by John van Wyhe. 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).
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(1
Abstract
July 4th /73/ — Watch glasses each with 1/2 dr. of water & 1/2 dr. of Ph. of Ammonia 1 gr. to 100 of water. — (Phosphate with painted ornament)
Watch soec. 8. 25—30' immersed
Phosphate 8. 30'—37' do.
Glass. 1. water 8. 40' some inflect (9º. 25' a good many inflect)
(11. 30 between 40 & 50 inflected (old fly on leaf) — Omitted
(1. 30 do) (4. 30; about 30 inflected)
July 5 8. 45' — a trace of sub-inflection in the sub-marginals which stand upright
Glass I. Phosphate 8. 40 great inflection. (9.. 25' all perfectly inflected
4. 30' all but 2 injured ones
July 5' 8. 15. the extreme marginals reexpanding
Glass 2. Water. 9. 27' 1 inflected (11. 30' do) (do. 1. 30'
4. 30' none inflected — July 5 8. 45 the sub-marginals now a little subinflected & those on the disc
Glass 2 Phosphate 9. 27. a few inflected, several sub-inflected
(11. 30' almost all inflected or sub-inflected) (do 1. 30')
4. 30' all inflected or sub-inflected except 4.
July 5' 8. 30 all the marginal half-reexpanded
Glass 3. water 9. 28 2 inflected (11. 30' do.) (1. 30' do)
4. 30' none inflected — (do July 5 9.) (old leaf)
Glass 3 Phosphate 9. 28 4 inflected (11. 30', all inflected, except 9 & these sub-inflected)
1. 30' all those round disc well inflected, & a good many sub- marginals subinflected
(4. 30' do) (July 5 .8. 30' all the sub-marginals sub-inflected, the extreme marginals fully expanded
Glass 4. water 9º. 28' none, except a few on disc (11. 30' 3 on pedicel)
4. 30' none inflected (July 5 9.) (old leaf)
Glass 4. Phosphate 9. 28' all except 8 marginals inflected.
(11. 35' all inflected except 4, & these sub-inflected.)
(1. 30' do) 4. 30' all inflected except 5 & these well subinflected.
July 5th 8. 20' a trace of reexpansion
(over
1v
10. 30' all or many same state
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Abstracted
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July 4th 8. 50'. 4 leaves with 2 dr. of Water
― 8 54' 4 leaves with 2 dr of Phosphate 1 gr. to 100 oz
9. 30 one of water with 9 tent inflected
do Phosphate. 9. 30' 2 leaves with almost all; the 2 others with a good many.
( 10. 30' all in nearly same state
11. 40'. one of water with 3 or 4 inflected & some on disc sub-inflected.
do Phosphate — in same state, but more inflected.
1'. 30' the one water one with all tentacles nearly straight again
1. 30 Phosphate, the 2 well inflected in same state; the 3d, with all round disc well inflected & most of marginals sub-inflcd; the 4th, with about 30 tent. fairly well inflected & some others sub-inflected; a very large & old leaf.
4. 40' Water all with tentacles straight.
― Phosphate (1) with only 6 tentacles very little inflected all the rest inflected (2) with only 5 not inflected all the rest inflected
3d. with discals tent. inflected & some sub-marginal sub-inflected
4th in nearly same state as last— Both 3d & 4th old leaves.
July 5' 9. all 4 water spec. with tentacles straight
― 9' Phosphate (1) & (2). with the sub-marginals & marginals partially reexpanded (3) with all reexpanded except the outer ones of h disc — (4th) with about 60 of the sub-marginals sub-inflected
N. B. After 24' & at first Ph of Ammonia. 1. gr to 100 oz causes no change of colour in the glands. —
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Abstracted
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July 5. 11. 15'-20' 25'— 4. watch glasses with pure water & 1.2 dr. of Phosphate of Amm. 1 gr. to 100 oz (like yesterday)
(1) water 11. 47. 46 no inflected. 2. 30 (1 sub-inflected)
(5. 30' 2 or 3 over pedicel sub-inflected)
July 6th 8. 5' a trace of inflect on the outer discal no others.
Phosphate ― great inflect 2. 30' all except 20 marginal
5. 30; only 1 not at all inflected all rest closely or a few only sub-inflected
― July 6th 8. 10' all inflected except 3; a few only sub-inflected.
(2) water 11. 48' none. (2. 30 none) (5. 30' none)
July 6. 8. 10 a minute insect caught & a few sub-marg inflected at distal end
Phosphate pale leaf 11. 48 great (2. 30' all except 18 extreme marginals)
2. 39' all except 30 long marginals
(5. 30 all except 16 inflected. —
July 6th 8. 10' all the marginals fully reexpanded— a ring of glands still on disc
(3) Water old leaf 11. 49' none —(2º. 30' none) (5. 30' none)
(July 6 8. 10 none inflected)
Phosphate old 11. 49 great (2. 30 all except 30 marginals)
5 30 all except 21 inflected
July 6' 8. 10 all reexpanded, except a few sub-marginals at one point
(4) water 11' 50' none (palish leaf, none 2º. 30') (5. 30' none)
(July 6th 8. 15' none)
Phosphate 11. 50' (very pale leaf) a trace of inflect (2. 30' a mere trace of sub-inflection of sub-marginals)
(5. 30' The outer ones on disc well inflected with glands in a ring — sub-marginals, sub-inflected)
July 6' 8. 15' all reexpanded, except a trace of sub-inflection in outer discal tents.
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Abstracted
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July 5th — 11. 25'—35'.
4 leaves in saucer with 2 dr. water. & 4 with 2d. dr of Phosphate of Ammonia. 1 gr. to 100 oz. (add p 2 about gland not blackened after 24' yet the dose given not weakened
—
11. 45 Phosphate great inflect in 3 red, little in white ones
― water no inflect
2. 30' waters none
do Phosphate. (1) all except about 10 extreme marginals (2) all except 16 marginals, & some of these subinflected (3) all except 16 marginals 4th very pale leaf, those round margin of disc alone inflected — perhaps a trace of inflection in sub-marginals — It is clear these pale leaves do not act; & the very red ones have their extreme marginal tents too old.
5. 30' water none
so Phosphate (1) all except 1 inflected almost alone, a few only sub-inflected
(2) ― 14 ― ― ― ― ― ―
(3) ― 18 ― do do. do
(4) outer tentacles of disc inflected with glands forming a ring a trace of inflection in sub-marginals
July 6th 8. 15' water no inflection in any except one red leaf in which the outer ones of disc slightly sub-inflected
Phosphate 8. 15 (1) smaller red leaf, with the sub-marginal & outer discals still forming a ring, marginal reexpanded
(2 & 3) reexpanded with a little sub-inflection here & there
(4) with the outer ones of disc still forming an imperfect ring; most of the sub-marginals fully reexpanded—
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Abstracted
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July 6th Phosphate of Amm 1 gr to 200 oz. — 1/2 drach to each leaf. — Water 8. 42' 8 45 to 49— Phosphate 8. 49. to 50'. — 8. 50
Water 10. 45' pale leaf (no inflection) where (12.40', O) (3. O) (5. 30', O)
(1)( July 7' 8º, O)
Phosphate 10. 45 about 22 sub-marginal inflect (12. 40' many inflected)
(3. I daresay 100 inflected) 5. 30' all inflected except 9 marginals, chiefly on pedicel)s some very few others only subinflected
July 7th. 8., all inflected except one, probably reflex action — much segregation as seen under lens
(6th cont)
(2) Water (10. 45' O) (12. 40', O) (3. O) (5. 20', O) (July 7 8., O)
Phosphate. 9.. 8' several 50 or 60 inflected —(9. 45 about 47 inflected) (12. 46 many)
(3. outer discals & all marginals near pedicel forming a splendid ring
(5. 30' all the sub-marginals sub- inflected & the inner row well inflected; splendid ring.)
July 7 8. 5'— splendid ring, marginals of about 4th row closely inflected
(3) Water (10. 47 O) (12. 40', O) (3º, O) (5. 30', O) (July 7' 8. 5', O)
Phosphate 10. 47'— (abut 21 inflected), (12. 40', about the same)
03. only about 8 tentacles subinflected) (5. 30' only 2 now inflected)
(July 7th 8. 5' none much inflected)
(4) Water 10. 50', O) (12. 40', O) (3, O) (5. 30', O) (July 7' 8. 5'. O)
Phosphate 9. 8' several inflected. (10. 50' about 19 inflected)
(12. 40' the submarginals & outer discals forming a ring) (3, in same state, very few of marginals inflected.)
(5. 30' sub-marginals sub-inflected, discals a good ring)
(July 7' 8. 5' like no' 2. but not so close or fine a ring.
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Abstracted
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July 6th Phosphate of Amm. 1 gr. to 200 oz.
9., 4 leaves in 2 drachm of water
9. 4', 4 leaves in 2 drach of above sol. of Phosphate. —
Phosphate 9. 10' in one leaf several inflected !! A few in the other leaves. I can see them moving
10. 50' Water (1) with 4 sub-inflected
Phosphate 10. 52' (1) all outer except 3 or 4 (2) & 3 with a large number
(4) the with about 12 inflected
12. 45' Water O/
― Phosphate (1) as before (2) outer discals & sub-marginals forming a ring
(3) with 30 or 40 inflected
(4) a very few inflected, but outer discals show tendency to form ring
3. water O/ all expanded
― Phosphate (1) all inflected except 5 (2 & 3 ) outer discals & some marginals forming a ring
(4) a trace of ring by outer discals, no others inflected
5. 30' water all O/
― Phosphate (1) all inflected except 5) (2 & 3 discals make a fine ring, sub-marginals, subinflected (4) outer discals a feeble ring, sub-marginal very little affected —
July 7th 8. 10', Water all 4 leaves O
― Phosphate (1) few extreme marginals reexpanded
(2 & 3) rather less inflection (4) sub-marginals, I think, a little more affected.
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July 7th. 1 gr. of Phosphate of Ammonia to 200 oz of water 1/2 drach to each leaf, as before in watch glasses — Phosphate given 8. 20'—25'— water afterwards. say by 30'
(1) Water 10. 25 about 20 on each side inflected, but I suspect that I accidentally used some Ph. of Ammonia by mistake in measuring) (8. 30' great inflection in all tentacles. !!
2. 30 same state perhaps opening)—(5. greatly reexpanded)
(July 8th. 8. hardy a trace of inflection)
Phosphate (10. 25' all but 19 marginals inflected
2. 30 all but 22 inflected (5. 20', all but 6 inflected) (may be reflex)
July 8' 8. A m in nearly same state with lamina more inflected)
(2) Water (10. 30', 6 marginals inflected) (2. 30' only 2 inflected)
(5. 20' only 1 a trace on disc)
(July 8th, 8. a trace of inflection on disc)
Phosphate (10. 30' all but 8 inflected)
2. 30 ― ― 7 ―)
5' 20 ― ― 5 or 6 ―
July 8' 8. 5' the extreme marginals almost all reexpanded
(3) Water (10. 30', O inflected) —(July 8', 8. 5', O) old leaf
Phosphate old leaf (10. 30 about 50 marginals inflected
2. 30 about 59 inflected
5 20 reexpanding
July 8th, 8. 5', only a trace of inflection round disc, & in some sub-marginal over pedicel
(4) Water (10. 30' 2 margin inflected) (2. 30' 1 marginal sub-inflected)
(5. 20' none inflected) (July 8' 8. 5', O)
Phosphate (10. 30' all but 4 inflected, small leaf)
(2. 30 beginning to reexpand)
(5. 20' — greatly reexpanded.)
July 8th .8. 5' greatly reexpanded, yet a ring of glands on disc.
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Abstracted
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p. 7 continued) same experiment (Phosphate 8. 45'-50' Water at 9.-9. 5'.
(5) 6 water (10. 30', 2 inflected) 2. 30' 1 inflected) 5. 20' none inflected)
(July 8th, 8. 10', O)
Phosphate (10. 30', all but 26 marginals inflected)
2. 30 beginning to reexpand. (5. 20' — greatly reexpanded, but still ring on disc
July 8th 8. 10' still a ring on disc
(It is evident that reexpansion begin on outside.)
(6) 7 water (10. 33', O) (2. 30', O) (5. 25', O) (July 8'. 8. 10', O)
Phosphate (10. 33' [+] 12 [=] 45 all but 4 inflect.)
2. 30' all inflected, but 12 only sub-inflected— lamina of leaf much inflected
5. 20' all inflected except 3 or 4)
(July 8th 8. 10 same state.)
(7) water palish leaf (10. 34', 3 inflected) (2. 35' 3 sub-inflected) (5. 25' 2 inflected or subinf)
(July 8', 8. 10', the outer ones of disc & inner sub-marginals forming a ring)
Phosphate (10. 34' [+] 12 [=] 46 all but 7 inflected)
2. all inflected except 2 marginals
5. 25 lamina greatly inflected, I think 2 sub inflected
(5. 20 same state) (July 8th 8. 10' the marginals reexpanding)
8 water (10. 35' 34 1 inflected) (2. 30 2 sub-inflected) (5. 25', O)
(July 8th 8. 10', O)
Phosphate (10. 34' a large number sub-inflected & inflected
2. 30' all but 23 inflected & several of these sub-inflected, discal ones forming fine ring (5. 25 all but 16 inflected)
July 8' 8. 10 marginals reexpanded, but still ring on disc
Citation: John van Wyhe, ed. 2002-. The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online. (http://darwin-online.org.uk/)
File last updated 9 January, 2026