RECORD: Darwin, C. R. Nitrate of Ammonia Sept 12th 10.40 [application also of saliva, urine]. CUL-DAR60.1.36-39. (John van Wyhe ed., 2002-. The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online, http://darwin-online.org.uk/)
REVISION HISTORY: Transcribed and edited by John van Wyhe 6.2025. RN2
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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Nitrate of Ammonia Sept 13th 10. 40 Sunshiny
Sept 13'. 4.. 45' in 6. (2 gr to 6 oz) = (1 gr to 3 oz)
Spec. (I) several marginals on both sides inflected — moderate effect
Sept 14. 9.. 35' more strongly inflected. 5. P.m still more inflected. in 24. to 30.
Spec (II) 2 marginals inflected
XX do in same state — sub-marginals at ∠' 5. P.m same state very slight effect
Spec. (III) old large leaf (some 3 long submarginals inflected. very slight effect
XX same state 5 P. m same state
Spec (IV) some long submarginals inflected, & some marginals at ∠' .
XX 5 long marginals inflected — 7 marginals inflected. 5. P.m. moderate effect — (5. nil 7nil or 8 to 10.)
spec (V) 2 marginals inflected.
XX 3 marginals inflected. Sept 14th 5. P.m same state very slight effect
Sept 13th Nitrate of Ammonia 10.. 30'
2 gr to 4 oz. = 1. gr to 2 oz
Sept 14th. 9.. 45' A.M & 5. P. m
1 spec. 2 or 3 marginals half inflected — sub-marginal at ∠s (certainly some effect)
2 spec. not much action. (perhaps none)
3 spec. not much action., sub-marginal at ∠s (very little action)
480 [x] 2 [=] 960 (+] 240 [=] 1200 [x] 2 [=] 2400 (+] 480 [=] 2770
480 [x] 3 [=] 1440 [x] 2 [=] 2880
36v
(2
Nitrate of Ammonia 2 gr to 1 oz Sept 11th. 10 15
at 5.. 15'. (ie 7 hour)
1 spec. more deeply laterally inflected than any I ever saw
2 spec deeply terminally inflected & rather shrivelled.
3d spec. leaf not inflected, but vast number of hairs strongly inflected.
480 [x] 2 Sept 12th Nitrate of Ammonia Hot Day
10. AM. put on 2. gr. to 2 .oz 1 gr to 1 oz. — at 5— 15
1 spec. With all hair, including 2 or 3 marginals well inflected }——Sept 13. 9. 30' all spec a good deal affected }
2 spec. do only submarginals inflected
3. " hardy any effect
2 gr. to 3 oz. at 5 20 = 1 gr 1 1/2 oz
1 spec —. submarginals & 1 marginal inflected —(Sept. 13. 9.. 30' one of these 3 specs. with many marginal unequivocally inflected.)
2 spec some marginals semi-inflected
(Put on albumen & as it did not inflect marginals specimen bad. Sept 15' 10. Am) } do 5.: 18th:— as Sept 14. 4.. 30'
3 spec. no marked effect. (As urine did not produce marked effect spec. bad.] } (in my account give this as caution.—)
960 [x] 2 [=] (1920)
2 gr to 4 oz. 5.. 20' = 1 gr to 2 oz.
Pink card { 1 spec 1 or 2 marginals at right angles —(Sept 12th. 9. 45' 10. 30' with many marginals certainly & plainly inflected)
2 spec. many marginals inflected !! (with nearly all marginals strongly inflected .)
3 spec. submarginals at right angles. (with many marginals strongly inflected)
14th. 9. 30 still inflected these 3.—
do 5 P.m. do. do
See Back
N.B The nitrate was granular & not [illeg] : it was rather humid & I did not dry it. — There is then great difference between it & Carb of Amm., as the latter would volatilise; but of these salt all none put on leaf would be lost.—
/over
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White Card
September 15th 9. 45'
Nitrate of Ammonia. 2 gr to 4 oz. = 1 gr. to 2 oz
X Spec 1 5. P.m. large leaf no effect./
16th 9. no effect..16' 5. P.m Urine after 7 hours did not cause hardy any marginals to be inflected; leaf not inflected. 17' 1. P.m. now the Urine has caused all marginals to be sub-inflected.
2 3. P.m. 2 or 3 terminal marginals, & 3 or 4 at base inflected; several submarginals at ∠
16th. 9. 25. limb of leaf a little inflected towards footstalk; all marginals, except one inflected at ∠' & more ; all submarginals curled into central part: great effect
3 5. P.m no effect
16th 9. no effect. In 7 hours Mucus produced some effect only one marginal at all inflected, submarginal inflected. 17th. 1. P.m. still mucus has produced but little effect — leaf itself terminally inflected has produced but little effect — leaf slightly terminally inflected.
4 5 P m no effect
16th 9. 35' sub marginals slightly inflected. 16th 5. P.m. no effect Put on Saliva 17th 1. P.m. saliva no effect
5 5. P.m. 3 marginals & many sub-marginals inflected.
16th 9. 35' leaf laterally considerably inflected, now I 3 or 4 marginals 7 sub-marginals much inflected. 17th 1.. P.m. leaf nearly open again 18th. 10.. perfectly open.
6 5. P.m no effect.
16th. 9. 45. 4 or 5 round-headed marginals inflected, sub-marginals much inflected, 2 or 3 marginal long-headed sub-inflected 17th 1. 15' P.m. all hairs getting straight again. —
7 5 P.m large leaf (some effect) marginals sub-inflected most of marginals strongly inflected & leaf itself very slightly . 16th. 9 50 leaf itself most strongly inflected laterally — all marginals except one much inflected. —
8 5. P.m very small leaf no effect 5. P.m most of marginals inflected & leaf itself terminally inflected. 16th 10. leaf itself not strongly latero-terminally inflected, all marginals inflected.
9
10
(6 Black wrong solution viz put on) 5. P.m., some footstalk marginal inflected.
1 no effect . barely slightly acted on by Urine in 17. & 24.
480 [x] 2 [=] 960 [x] 2 [=] 1920
2 edge great effect in 24. (some in 7.)
3 no effect. mucus slight effect
4 no effect. saliva no effect.
5 great effect edge inflected (slight effect in 7.) — (51' many reexpanded)
6 moderate effect about 7 margin inflected (51 do )
7 great effect edge of leaf & all Hair
8 great effect
Great effect moderate no effect
4 5 (+] 3 1 (+] 1 3 (+] 2
[=] 7 2 5
37v
solution 2 gr to 1 1/2 oz water
in 24.
1. in 31. several 3 to 6 or 5 marginal inflected. (in 19. rexpanded)
2 " rather fewer inflected
3 " do (in 7. some inflected) in 24. edge of leaf inflected) Great effect
4 No effect. saliva had some effect
5) Great effect in 24. edge of leaf strongly inflected, nearly all marginals (in 4 days rexpanded)
6 very moderately inflected.
7 Strongly in 24 inflected edge of leaf, & very many marginals. s Great effect
8 4 margins sunken. slight effect
9 Great moderately Great effect edge of leaf slightly
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Pink Card
September 15th 9.. 45'
Nitrate of Ammonia 2 gr. to 5 oz
1 5°. P.m. Large leaf no effect./
16th 9°. no effect./ 16th 5. P.m. 3 long-headed & several round-headed marginals inflected 17th. 1.. P.m. Straight again
2 5. P.. 1 long-headed & several round-headed marginals inflected.
16th 9. 30 in about same state 00 round-headed marginals at ∠s 11. 5. P.m all straight again. do 17th 1.. P.m.
3 5°. P.m. marginals at base inflected — a few 4 or 5 round-headed marginals at apex inflected.
16th 9° A.m disc of leaf much bent in, now standing at ∠' to stalk !! all round-headed marginal much inflected
4 5° P.m. no effect
16th 9. 35 no effect. 16th 5.. P.m. put on saliva 7th 1. P.m caused marginals to be inflected but not all or strongly
5 5' P.m 2 or 3 terminal round-headed sub-inflected.
16th. 9° 35 leaf laterally consid. inflected. Abut 15 marginals inflected. (5. Pm nearly all marginals inflected looks healthy whole leaf strongly inflected) (18' 10. not yet fully open) (19th 11°. fully open)
6 5.. P.m one or two sub-marginals inflected.
16. 9. 50. on lower 1/2 of leaf submarginals & extreme footstalk marginals much inflected. The hairs here not proper radiated appearance
7 5° P.m. (large leaf) some effect marginals sub-inflected.
16th 10°. leaf terminally strongly inflected: very many marginals inflected.
8 5° Pm. very small leaf no effect. 16th 10. 4 round-headed marginals inflected not much effect
9
10
6 properly black. Card but this strength put on 5. P.m some footstalk marginal inflected.
19th 9° 50 leaf laterally slightly inflected, 2 long-headed 2 round-headed marginals inflected — all footstalk marginals inflected.
(Nine leaves tried)
480 [x] 2 [=] 960 (+] 240 [=] 1200 [x] 2 [=] 2400
39
480 [x] 3 [=] 1440 mns [x] 2 [=] 2880 437.5 [x] 3 [=] 1312.5 gr or g (6
Black Card
September 15th 9°. 45'
Nitrate of Ammonia 2 gr to 6 oz. = 1. to 3.
spec 1 5° P.m sub-marginals inflected & 2 round-headed marginals inflected
16th/ 9 30 5 marginals inflected; one or two others sub inflected — sub-marginals at ∠ 17. 1. P.m. all straight except one round-headed marginal
2 5. P.m. no effect
16th 9 30 no effect 16th 5.. P.m Mucus after 7 hours produced very little effect; no marginals inflected — leaf flat. —17th. 1°. P.m. still mucus hardly any effect
3 5. P.m. one or two marginals subinflected.
16th 9°. 10' these marginals now all straight again.— 16th 5.. P.m. urine after 7 hours caused marginal to stand at ∠' & leaf less affected than in other case by urine
4 5. P.m one marginal inflected hardy any effect
16th 9° 30 1 marginal, several sub-marginals much inflected.
18. 10°. leaf withered & dyng I think 18th 11°. somewhat revived, somewhat more open 20th 9. A.m expanded & fairly well revived. —
5 (Wrong solution of 2 gr to 5 oz put on this.]
6 5. P.m. submarginals at ∠ probably no effect.
16'. 10. Am. leaf plainly inflected terminally — 6 marginal hairs inflected
17. 1°. 15', leaf flat, all hairs straight & expanded again.
7 5. P.m no effect
16' 10. two marginals inflected, several slightly inflected, & leaf itself slightly inflected. all margin at ∠
16' 5. P.m inflection of leaf disappearing.
8 5. P.m no effect Old Basin
16. 9. 40. no effect Urine put on 16' 5.. P.m on 17' 1. p.m. great effect
9 5. P.m some sub-marginals at ∠'
do. 16' 9.. 40' —(same remarks about Urine as in Nor. 8)
10 5. P.. 1 marginal, sub-marginals well inflected.
16th 9. 40'' do & 3 round-headed marginals sub-marginals strongly inflected.— (17th 1. P.m. These round-headed marginals & 1 long-headed marginal nearly straight again.—)
Citation: John van Wyhe, ed. 2002-. The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online. (http://darwin-online.org.uk/)
File last updated 8 January, 2026