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. 7. 40' very slightly clasped) 8th    9.    hardy any action)

Cabbage (Blue Heads) 7th 7. 40 fairly well clasped) (8th    9.    one leaf inflected, but with hardy any marginals; & the other leaf with merely sub-marginals)(9th 8. 15. sub-marginal still inflected)

(10th. 8. almost fully reexpanded (some) (11'    8. 30'    same state, but I think beginning to reexpand) (12th 8. 30' fully rexpanded. planted by stick & hooked Best pin)

 Stick with white wool

Radish (7th 7. 40    well clasped) (8th, 9. clasped only by sub-marginals

(9th    8. 15 beginning to reexpand)

   Stick with Black wool

Butter-cup (unripe not quit ripe) (7th 7. 35' 2 leaves reexpand; 3d leaf pretty well clasped.)

(8th    9.    trace of action in both 3 leaves.) (9.    8. 15' 2 leaves quit reexpanded) (10th. 8. the 3d leaf fully reexpanded

   (Red Stick)

Carex or Luzula (unripe seed) (7th    7. 40' both well clasped.) (8th. 9. do)

(9th. 8. 15' still closely inflected & lam.) (10th    8º, one leaf fully expanded seed rendered colourless instead of green, the other still strongly clasped

(11th.    8. 30'    still close) (14'    8º, now open

Slice of fresh Pea (6th 10. 25' some inflection) 7th. 7. 40' splendid inflection & of lamina)8th 9. do    (N. B slice of boiled rice slight inflection & reexpanded after 48º.) (9.  8. 15    1 leaf reexpanded) (10th.    8. other leaf reexpanded)

   Black stick

Caraway    7th    7. 40    both leaves open. (8th    9., one leaf trace of action)

8th 9. 1 leaf no action    —(9th.    8. 15'    no action)

(over)

71v

6th

Continued

Celery (7th.    7. 40'    both leaves open)

   Stick with red paper Head

Cress (6th    10. 35 some inflection 1 leaf) 7th    7. 45', one leaf with 2 seeds slightly clasped by sub-marginals other leaf well clasped & lam. —inflected (8th. 9. — same state)

(9th.    8. 15, same state as on 7th) (10th.    8. the 1 leaf with 2 seeds fully reexpanded these seed still retained jelly; the other leaf almost dead)

 Mustard    7th    7. 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 8. no action except sub-marginals) (10'    8. same state)(Sow seeds)

(11' 8. 30' very slight action on 2 seeds)

(12th 8. 30' expanded or almost expanded; no marginals inflected — planted by 1 pin

✔ (14th 8. 1 germ.)

Anemone nemorosa 1 (Red Head) after being on Pinguicula (6. 50' 1 leaf with sub-marg inflected) (9th 8. same state) — (10th, 8. both leaves expanded) ✔

Cress Soaked with jelly (2 Stick with lines) (10. 30' a good deal of inflection in one, even marginals)

(6. 50' little inflection in one, immense in other with lam. can it be jelly ?)

(9th    8. same state) (10th. 8. same state) (11th.    8. 30', the one over which tents not inflected now germinating) (12th 8. 30, one still inflected

Radish.    2 White paper Head    (6. 50' sub-marg. a little inflected)

(9th 8. same state) (10th. 8. same state) (11th. 8. 30' same state)

(12th 8. 30', almost reexpanded — planted 2 pins)    no marginal inflected)

Butter cup (2 Match sticks)    (6. 50' sub-marg in 1 leaf) (9th. 8. sub-marg in both leaf slightly) (10th 8º, hardy any action) (11th. 8. 30' same state, sub-marg inflected) (12th 8. 30' rexpanded)

Pollen of Pea    3 leaves (2 White Wool & 1 Black Wool) 9. 30'.    (6. 50' grt inflection in all 3 leaves) (9th. 8. same state    (10th 8. 1 l all 3 reexpanded fully)

(over)

72v

June 9th    8. 15'    2 leaves    (Stick with 2 Pins)

   seed of Carex or Luzula    (10th    8. immense inflection in one & lam & considerable great in other)(11th 8. 30' same state

Jun 12th    8. 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 12. 30' (i e after 3h grt inflection in both — Jun 10th    8. A.m    both leaves & both lam enormously inflected — it is clear that jelly checks action of digestive fluid like epidermis. —    Sow

(11th   8. 30;    still closed) (12th    8. 30'    do)

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

File last updated 8 January, 2026