RECORD: Darwin, C. R. 8-22 September. [Substances tried on insectivorous plants.] CUL-DAR60.1.42-48. Edited by John van Wyhe (Darwin Online, http://darwin-online.org.uk/)
REVISION HISTORY: Transcribed and edited by John van Wyhe 6.2025. RN1
NOTE: 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).
42
Sept 8th 10.52 — 6 P.M. no effect
Sect 2 10.15 no effect on to these leaves. 2.40 no effect
Sulph. of ammonia 4 gr to 1 oz
S spec 9th 5.25 no effect (30 ½ hours) & a two leaves below were no sensitive
X we may conclude s. of ammonia no effect
2 spec (albumen 9th 2.40) 5.23 9l albumen had caused whole end of leaf to gr vertically strongly affected 2 ¾
3 spec. (put a milk on one) 9th 2.40 5.23 milk caused good but less lateral terminal [illeg].
Sept 8th Citrate of ammonia about 4 gr. To 1 oz 11 A.M
X
1 spec (yellow & black cross) no effect but stick wet from bearing a cut- [illeg]
(Try again)
2 spec a modest effect. A few of marginal inflected, but then there is nothing on leaf
Sept 8 Nitrate of soda 4 gr 1 oz 11.09
Sept 9th 10 A.M. (23 hours) (Sept 8 6 P.M. no clear effect)
1 spec a great majority of hairs were unaffected, but small-headed & long-headed —but many long-headed have in heads & are not inflected, so I suppose old leaf.—
2 spec —quite a young leaf every hair unaffected & leaf unaffected
3 spec. a vast quantity of hairs well inflected, including many long-headed.—
Sept 9. 5.30 club same state
We may conclude [illeg] effect
Sept 10th 10 AM be seemed to injure leaves.
42v
Exclusively Salts
Nov 8th Exclusively to
Chiefly Salts)
43
Sept 8th 11.25
Acetate of ammonia about 4 gr to 1 oz (with acid)
At 6 P.M no marked effect (ie 5 ½ hours
X Sept 9th 10.10 (ie 22 40)
Blue card. 1 sp Every single hair inflected
This salt blackened the leafs & injured them
Blue 2 sp. every single hair or upper half splendidly inflected.
Acetate of ammonia
Sept 12th 10.35
1 gr to 1 oz " "
2 gr to 2 oz at 5.30 (ie 7 hours) 1 spec [illeg] inflected nearly all hairs —2d spec. not much effected. Do Sept 13th 9.40
Sept 13 5 PM well inflected 480 [x] 2 [=] 960
2 gr to 1 oz. (ie stronger dose)
1 spec rather strongly inflected Sept 13th 9.40 very strongly inflected
2 spec rather strongly inflected —Sept 13 5 P.M much inflected some marginal inflected — other at L'
2 spec.
44
Sept 9th 3 PM Syrup of sugar
Syrup Sept 10th 5 (ie 26 hours
1. spec. no effect on marginal hairs or on leaf; not effect on enlarged marginal hairs perhaps
2 spec. do. do. do
from same dates & same remarks 2 specs.
1 [illeg] of albumen same date no effect produced !!!
Sept 11 9.45 put on milk 12 9.30 the milk produced some effect
Sept 11th 9.45 no marked effect on extra gum or syrup. At this date put on milk & albumen on one leaf of each pair.
Sept 12th 9.45 (1) Gum with albumen [illeg] marginals of marginal hairs strongly inflected
(2) Gum with milk not very strong effect Sept 12th 5.30 well inflected from milk
(1) Syrup (after albumen)most of marginal hairs strongly inflected
(2) Syrup (after milk) almost every marginal do. do.
Gum & Syrup
44v
Non- nitrogenized substances
(with some case of [illeg] [illeg]
Down & Eastbourne
Remember to say something about [illeg] or [illeg] acting
Non- nitrogenical substances
(with [illeg] case of urine & saliva..,)
Down & Eastbourne
45
Sept 9
Citrate of ammonia about 4 gr to 1 oz 3.12
Sept 10 5 [illeg]
1 sp. (marked blue [illeg] ) no strong effect than gum or [illeg] Sept 11th 10 shrickled on
Blue mark on plate
2 sp. (do) Sept 10 5 PM no effect considerable contraction in one Sept 11th 10 [illeg] well constricted. In 42º
X
3 spec. Sept 10 5 PM perhaps some slight & other. No effect Sept 11 10 somewhat contracted. In 42º
46
Sept 10 10.30 Wine
Sept 11 5.30
1 spec. vertical no effect (put on milk 11th 5.30) (Sept 12 9.50 milk [illeg] decided effect, but not great)
2 spec. no inflection sodden in middle & much injured
3d shrivelled & dryed & complete little inflected.
Sept 10 10.30 Olive oil
Sept 11th 5.30
1 spec no effect—put on milk Sept 12 10.50 no marked effect
2 spec. upper hairs inflected of vertical leaf, but I think effect of weigh of oil
46v
Professor Miller F.R.S.
King's College
London W.C
47
Sept 13th 10.30 Strong Tea
Two spec. Sept 14 4.30 no effect (after 30 hours)
Nitrate of Soda. 2 gr to 1 oz. Sept 14th 10
1 spec. while leaf strongly inflected & many marginals inflected
Sept 15 10 AM whole leaf & marginal hairs most strongly inflected
2d spec. submarginal at L' leaf bent in the front left
Sept 15 10 AM whole leaf inflected & all marginal inflected full at right angles looks health
3d spec. submarginal inflected
Sept 15 10 AM several marginals at least a dozen marginal slightly withered, but not much.
Sept 14th 10.10 Citrate of ammonia 2 gr to 1 oz
1 spec. —2 or 3 marginals inflected
Sept 15 10.15 hardly any effect, ie no more effect/ do at 5 PM
2 spec 2 marginal inflected
Sept 15 10.15 hardly any effect. —no more effect do. —5 PM
X
3 spec. 2 marginal & sub-marginals well inflected
Sept 15 10.15 hardly any effect, ie no more effect —apparently less than last night do 5 PM
Bis
Sept 14th 11.10 Nitrate of Lime 2 fr 1 oz
— 5 PM
I spec. no effect Sept 15th 5 PM
Sept 15th 10.20 no effect slightly withered. 5 PM no effect
II spec no clear effect, but injured spec. (do Sept 15 10.20 do 5 PM)
III. no effect. — do Sept 15 5 PM.—
47v
Oxalate of ammonia Sept 13th 10.35
5 PM 2 gr to 1 oz
1 spec strongly inflected, all marginal on L some closely inflected
2 specs strongly inflected this marked 2 gr to 2 oz (probably a mistake for 1 oz)
48
Sept 13th 11 Nitrate of Potash 2 gr to 1 oz
— 14th 5 PM
I spec. no effect. Sept 15 10 AM no effect yet look healthy
II spec withered & inflected (threw away)
III spec. marginal inflected
Sept 15th 10.20 no effect. Slightly withered.
Sept 19th 2 15 PM Nitrate of Potash 2 gr to 1 oz.
1 spec do no effect. — (do 2.20) /do. do /
(See back)
3 spec d I marginal sub-inflected / do 2.20/ 21st 9 PM in same state
4 spec do no effect / do 2.20 / 21st 9 AM no effect
5 spec. do 1st marg. Inflected. Do. 2.20 / 21st 9 AM same state
Sept 19th I put 3 flies at 12.45 on extrem marginal hairs in 35' ([illeg] fly very minute acted less quickly, but came to centre dor 4.0) they were pushed by one swing into very middle of leaf —I think I had better say done with simple swing & not by touching other leaves & rolling — It is odd these extreme marginal hairs which more act when centre is [illeg], then every so quickly when they [illeg] are [illeg]. No I see it chiefly small-headed marginal wh here move flies so quickly to centre — I may add those hairs which touch fly & by few of intimately adjoining hairs from sympathy.—
4 bits of dry cinder 2 P.M. put on marginal hairs. 4.30 no effect. 5.40 1 bit hair
48v
Sept 21st 5.15 (after 51 hours) Put on milk & gelatine
1. no effect. Look dark-colour 22nd 9 A.M. no effect from milk
2 no effect do. milk no effect
3 no effect — perhaps some effect, 2 or 3 marginal inflected
4 no effect — think gelatine [to 4 and 5]
5. no effect — pretty strongly inflected
rolled to centre. (At 9.15 P.M. a 2d hit nearly in centre 11 in centre)
(11 PM a third bit of [illeg] has now travelled some way towards centre.)
(20th 9 AM three bits now well in centre, but hardly at all closed, one or two hairs over it; the 4th bit not moved)
2.15 the 4th bit a little moved — The other bits hardly at all
embraced — indeed only one at all entwined.
Citation: John van Wyhe, ed. 2002-. The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online. (http://darwin-online.org.uk/)
File last updated 12 June, 2025