RECORD: Darwin, C. R. [1874-1875]. Draft of Insectivorous plants, folios 29-30. CUL-DAR67.48-49. Edited by John van Wyhe (Darwin Online, http://darwin-online.org.uk/)

REVISION HISTORY: Transcribed by Christine Chua and edited by John van Wyhe 3.2023. 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 volume CUL-DAR67 contains notes on 'bloom'. Francis Darwin explained: "His researches into the meaning of the 'bloom,' or waxy coating found on many leaves, was one of those inquiries which remained unfinished at the time of his death. He amassed a quantity of notes on the subject". LL3: 339. See an Introduction to these folders by Christine Chua & John van Wyhe.

See Insectivorous plants p. 364.

A. Kerner. 1876. Die Schutzmittel der Blüthen gegen unberufene Gäste. Vienna.


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inflected. So it is as we shall see hereafter see with the sensitive filament six filaments on the leaves of the [4 penciled lines illeg] Dionæa, which are exquisitely sensitive to to an instantaneous & most delicate touch, even from a hair. — I have been struck with the same fact (as will be clear in a future paper) in the case of the tendrils of some climbing plants. According to * the irritable stamens of Berberis are not affected by drops of water falling on them. In all these cases we should bear in mind, that cases the most probable view appears to be, not that the tissues have gradually been rendered insensible to drop of water or rain falling on them, but that they were originally rendered, for the benefit of the plant, highly sensitive to the contact of any solid object. We should bear in mind that there is good reason to believe * (*quote section from Cohn & refer to new Edition of Origin of Species) that all vegetable cells are in some slight degree affected or excited by contact, & that this quality has been

[in margin:] The case of the Mimosas & Acacias, Trifol & Oxalis make me think that aboriginally plant wd be equally sensitive to water & winds I think all these had come in separate discussion with [illeg] & [illeg]

[in margin:] Keep for Bloom

(Kerner Die unberufene gaste Lettuce-leaves sensitive to ant tarsi)

over

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greatly increased in these plants which are highly irritable. Extreme excitability to the contact of a solid object having been are acquired, it incidentally follows that the cells are likewise strongly excited by other stimulants to which they are naturally never exposed, such as a current of electricity, a burning heat & various chemical reagents.


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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 14 June, 2023