RECORD: Darwin, C. R. & Emma Darwin. 1874.07.14-17. Utricularia. CUL-DAR59.1.150-156. Edited by John van Wyhe (Darwin Online, http://darwin-online.org.uk/)

REVISION HISTORY: Transcribed by Christine Chua and edited by John van Wyhe 10.2022. 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).

Utricularia is a genus of carnivorous plants known as bladderworts. These notes are for Darwin, C. R. 1875. Insectivorous plants. London: John Murray. (F1217)


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Utricularia July 15 14 1874

Put 2 atoms of blue glass on 2 valves. In a few hours one was in the bladder, the other was firmly fixed, standing upright (for it was a long splinter) half in the bladder.

Late in the evg. I put a 3rd small particle on a valve, next mg it was within. This mg (15th) examined upright splinter, which had entered at one corner, leaving a little triangular open space at one corner of the glass. Many of the tentacles seemed in close contact with the glass. It was so firmly fixed that the bladder was

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roughly turned over & over again without falling out: nearly half had passed down, at one corner of the valve, the remainder being closely shut: this proves how flexible the valve is; but the extent to which

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the particle had passed downwards, & the forces with which it was fixed shows that the weight cd not have done it. I then cut open the bladder, & on dissection the particle fell out, & the valve recovered its position.

A few glands still adhered to the glass, & there were particles adhering to it which I believe were viscid matter. Whilst the particle stood jammed upright, I believe a good many glands were bowed over & fitted to its irregularities. If true, wonderful — see Sachs

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Utricularia

July 16' Twice Thrice it has occurred to me that I have laid minutest atoms of blue gland glass on valves & being having touched it them with a needle v greatly, like a flash of lightning — the atom disappeared & was then seen within the utricle. Mem. I found 3 grains of sand silex in one utricle. This mechanical action will hardly account for ⸮ for all the cases in which after a time particles of ⸮ glass, (in water) have disappeared when when place on valves ⸮ unless it be is with that the greatest prolonged pressure causes valve slowly to bend, & then it springs into former former position.

[sketch] Air x gateway

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Utricularia

July 16 examined a bladder with a slightly decayed elongated larva. The inside thickly clothed with quadrifid spines projecting obliquely upwards. These were clogged with decaying animal matter. Inside they contain protoplasm in various states of aggregation. Generally in numerous small spheres, which change their places relatively to each other & to the spine; became confluent & separated, changed their shapes & projections separated themselves; spheres minute & almost colourless.

Examined a perfectly clean specimen

The quadrifid spines (which always consist of 2 long & 2 short) were perfectly clear, but contained protoplasm, as it did not

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Utricularia

extend to the tip. I did not notice a nucleus. This spec. was left for 24h in infusion of raw meat, & was, I think changed in appearance, but was accidentally spoiled.

Examined bladders which had been in C. of Amm. (4 gr to 1 oz) but did not find a single virgin one, & do not know that the Am. had entered.

The spines were transparent, but each had a conspicuous solid nucleus, which changed its position

July 16th. Put 2 very minute atoms of Lead on 2 valves for some 2 or 3 hours. They   remained on surface; then 1 disappeared & later the other, & both found within bladders.

: the specimen had not been handled— so certainly slow action, I now do not doubt about splinters of blue-glass slowly entering bladders— Grains of sand in another bladder— May I have touched spines on valves when I touched bits of glass.

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Utricularia

July 17. Examined another bladder, (as did Frank) another) with old decayed larva, the quadrifid spines merely had the solid nucleus, as after C. of Ammonia. &) This is very odd. Q

Frank says he saw same appearance in bladder which he believed was virgin. —

I had stuck fibrin of dry meat into valve of 2 bladders 36h previously, not digested & examined glands round aperture: all those on margin much affected — protoplasm greatly shrunk. (like Franks specimen in infusion of raw meat) from walls & in some distinctly ruptured & we could neither see any movement in protoplasm.—

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Utricularia. — General Argument.

Multitude of prey — no proof. — Horse-chesnut azalea. — But structure is transparent valve— globule of air respiration. Valve no use to admit air — submerged — water easily absorbed walls very thin of Bladder— Surrounding Bristle— formed of prolongation of leaf (?)

No true digestion. —Argument for absorption— sl extraordinary exposure of thin membrane on inner surface. — glands outside— they have different structure because absorb weaker matter exposed to surrounding water

Adaptation of glands on margin of valve & on valve to reach object stuck in mouth, as often occurs, through exterior portion soon Ø

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drags & washed away— (Bits of meat stuck in orifice too string are accustomed to entomostraca)

Necrophagous. — like Neottia nidus avis. —


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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 5 November, 2022