RECORD: Darwin, C. R. 1877.09.06-.10.01. Oxalis purpurata. CUL-DAR67.6. 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.
[6]
& dripping Oxalis Bowii (?) purpurata Jaeger. (as named by Oliver at Kew) 1877
Sept 6th 11˚ 45'
Sponged 3 leaves with water 88°-86° (yellow wool white Thread) upper surface, pinned down & put on drops of water on the 2 sides of each leaflet. — Lower surface of leaves very hairy — Dew adheres remarkable to upper surface
Sept 15'. I think pale spot where on one leaflet where water has rested
Sept 18th freed leaves — 1 leaflet partially yellowish, & the 2 others slightly so, where water lay, but then some other leaves beginning to turn yellowish in parts. — I shall be able to judge better in 2 or 3 days.
Sept 19th I doubt any injury: the one leaf which now shows yellow mark may be independent of the drops of water.
(Sept 24' put leaf under drip at 9˚ 5'. at 4˚ not quite wet
― 30th the leaflet has now become very yellow, but not infiltrated.
Oct 1 on touching leaflet it has disarticulated
Citation: John van Wyhe, ed. 2002-. The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online. (http://darwin-online.org.uk/)
File last updated 14 June, 2023