RECORD: Darwin, C. R. [ny].07.16-08.09 Oxalis sensitiva. CUL-DAR68.114. Edited by John van Wyhe (Darwin Online, http://darwin-online.org.uk/)
REVISION HISTORY: Transcribed by Christine Chua and edited by John van Wyhe 4.2023. 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-DAR68 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.
[114]
July 16th. — Oxalis sensitiva
[annotated sketch]
Young leaf— not very healthy—
sponged with water at 90° leaflets on both sides between A & B. — Between B & C did not touch leaflets.
At 11° 15' put drops of water on all the leaflets on Right side. but wd run across to 2 low basal leaflets on left side.—
July 24th The watered Leaves are now perhaps greener than any of the others. —
July 26th Ceased adding water (10 days) marked with white thread: the 2 leaves below thread were not sponged & are the worst. The 3 or 4 next were sponged. All these leaves are much paler & yellower than the terminal ones on free part of leaf, but not different from those on opposite side of leaf, which rested on damp cork.
The leaflets are not silvery in water, but surface repellent.)
July 27th. 8° I now see mid-rib of the 2 leaves to which nothing was previously done & 1 other have midribs browned, & not one other leaflets is in this state. —
(over)
[114v]
Augt 9th 3 of the leaflets now browned, but those on opposite side almost equally bad.
Citation: John van Wyhe, ed. 2002-. The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online. (http://darwin-online.org.uk/)
File last updated 13 July, 2023