RECORD: Darwin, C. R. [1872-1873]. ['On the movement of the leaves of Drosera'], folio 10. CUL-DAR61.12. (John van Wyhe ed., 2002-. The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online, http://darwin-online.org.uk/)
REVISION HISTORY: Transcribed by Christine Chua and edited by John van Wyhe 12.2022. 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).
The volume CUL-DAR61 contains Darwin's draft essay 'On the movement of the leaves of Drosera', written 1872-1873. He intended to publish this with a revised edition of Climbing plants before commencing a larger book draft in April 1874 which became Insectivorous plants. See the introduction to this essay by John van Wyhe.
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chloroform in a watch-glass entirely stopped the leaves clasping over flies placed on the leaves for a long as I watched the plant, namely for three days; & this was not owing to the plant having been seriously injured, for a young leaf which opened on the second day was perfectly able to seize a fly.—)
The head or gland secretes a large quantity of viscid fluid; it separately when some of the hairs had clasped over an object, it always seemed
Citation: John van Wyhe, ed. 2002-. The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online. (http://darwin-online.org.uk/)
File last updated 23 February, 2026