RECORD: Darwin, C. R. 1874. Seeds on Drosera. CUL-DAR57.71-72. (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).
71
A
June 6th /74/ 9. 35' Seeds on Drosera
(/)
Whet (7th. 7O 40' very slightly clasped) 8th 9. hardy any action)
Cabbage (Blue Heads) 7th 7O 40 fairly well clasped) (8th 9. one leaf inflected, but with hardy any marginals; & the other leaf with merely sub-marginals)(9th 8O 15. sub-marginal still inflected)
(10th. 8O almost fully reexpanded (some) (11' 8O 30' same state, but I think beginning to reexpand) (12th 8O 30' fully rexpanded. planted by stick & hooked Best pin)
✔
Stick with whit wool
Radish (7th 7O 40 well clasped) (8th, 9. clasped only by sub-marginals
(9th 8O 15 beginning to reexpand)
Stick with Black wool
Butter-cup (unripe not quit ripe) (7th 7O 35' 2 leaves reexpand; 3d leaf pretty well clasped.)
(8th 9. trace of action in both 3 leaves.) (9. 8O 15' 2 leaves quit reexpanded) (10th. 8O the 3d leaf fully reexpanded
(Red Stick)
Carex or Luzula (unripe seed) (7th 7O 40' both well clasped.) (8th. 9. do)
(9th. 8O 15' still closely inflected & lam.) (10th 8O, one leaf fully expanded seed rendered colourless instead of green, the other still strongly clasped
(11th. 8O 30' still close) (14' 8O, now open
Slice of fresh Pea (6th 10O 25' some inflection) 7th. 7O 40' splendid inflection & of lamina)8th 9. do (N. B slice of boiled rice slight inflection & reexpanded after 48O.) (9. 8O 15 1 leaf reexpanded) (10th. 8O other leaf reexpanded)
Black stick
Caraway 7th 7O 40 both leaves open. (8th 9., one leaf trace of action)
8th 9. 1 leaf no action —(9th. 8O 15' no action)
(over)
71v
6th
Continued
Celery (7th. 7O 40' both leaves open)
Stick with red paper Head
Cress (6th 10O 35 some inflection 1 leaf) 7th 7O 45', one leaf with 2 seeds slightly clasped by sub-marginals other leaf well clasped & lam. —inflected (8th. 9. — same state)
(9th. 8O 15, same state as on 7th) (10th. 8O the 1 leaf with 2 seeds fully reexpanded these seed still retained jelly; the other leaf almost dead)
Mustard 7th 7O 35' quit open, but leaves never shut well
(8th 9. scarcely a trace of action)
try cabbage again & mustard & radish & better cress.
72
(B
Jun 8th 74 9. 15' Seeds on Drosera
(/)
Cabbage Stick with one Pin (4 leaves) (6O. 50' a little inflection of sub-marginals of 1 leaf)
(9th 8O no action except sub-marginals) (10' 8O same state)(Sow seeds)
(11' 8O 30' very slight action on 2 seeds)
(12th 8O 30' expanded or almost expanded; no marginals inflected — planted by 1 pin
✔ (14th 8O 1 germ.)
Anemone nemorosa 1 (Red Head) after being on Pinguicula (6O 50' 1 leaf with sub-marg inflected) (9th 8O same state) — (10th, 8O both leaves expanded) ✔
Cress Soaked with jelly (2 Stick with lines) (10O. 30' a good deal of inflection in one, even marginals)
(6O 50' little inflection in one, immense in other with lam. can it be jelly ?)
(9th 8O same state) (10th. 8O same state) (11th. 8O 30', the one over which tents not inflected now germinating) (12th 8O 30, one still inflected
Radish. 2 White paper Head (6O 50' sub-marg. a little inflected)
(9th 8O same state) (10th. 8O same state) (11th. 8O 30' same state)
(12th 8O 30', almost reexpanded — planted 2 pins) no marginal inflected)
Butter cup (2 Match sticks) (6O 50' sub-marg in 1 leaf) (9th. 8O sub-marg in both leaf slightly) (10th 8O, hardy any action) (11th. 8O 30' same state, sub-marg inflected) (12th 8O 30' rexpanded)
Pollen of Pea 3 leaves (2 White Wool & 1 Black Wool) 9. 30'. (6O 50' grt inflection in all 3 leaves) (9th. 8O same state (10th 8O 1 l all 3 reexpanded fully)
(over)
72v
June 9th 8O 15' 2 leaves (Stick with 2 Pins)
seed of Carex or Luzula (10th 8O immense inflection in one & lam & considerable great in other)(11th 8O 30' same state
Jun 12th 8O 30' rexpanded, one not completely
June 9th (sticks with Black wool) 9. 30' 2 Cress seeds cleaned of jelly, as wells as I could by rubbing, possibly I injured coats — at 12O 30' (i e after 3h grt inflection in both — Jun 10th 8O A.m both leaves & both lam enormously inflected — it is clear that jelly checks action of digestive fluid like epidermis. — Sow
(11th 8O 30; still closed) (12th 8O 30' do)Citation: John van Wyhe, ed. 2002-. The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online. (http://darwin-online.org.uk/)
File last updated 30 November, 2025