RECORD: Darwin, C. R. [1872-1873]. ['On the movement of the leaves of Drosera'], folio [11A (a)]. CUL-DAR61.18. (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 2.2026. 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).

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.


[18]

(a)

(I also placed as already stated four flies, on single the glands of the marginal hairs & then of three were moved carried to the centre of the leaf in 35 minutes to an ∠ of 180; the fourth was which was extremely minute was was carried in 3 hours; over in through two 1° 30' 1 ½ hours. (Z) I then placed four little bits of cinder placed on single marginal hairs; one of these in 3° 40' reached the centre in 3° 40'; a second in 9°; a third had moved someway only part of the way towards the centre in the nine hours; the fourth in 24° had moved a only short distance: not one of the four three bits of cinder which had reached the centre were after 24° well enclosed; in fact only two or three hairs glands on each leaf besides that which carried the atoms, had enclosed come in contact with it. (D.) Much which had been placed on marginal hairs   all  Whereas in of the case of the seven flies all carried never quickly to the centre were well enclosed   by nearly all the hairs on said leaf   in form four to ten hours, after being having been first placed on the glands, of marginal hairs. These facts

[bottom of page excised. Continued on CUL-DAR61.19]


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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 23 February, 2026