RECORD: Darwin, C. R. [ny].06.10-07.12. Trifolium resupinatum (Kew seed). CUL-DAR68.47. 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.
[47]
Trifolium resupinatum (Kew seed) June 10th S Europe
upper surface of 3 leaflets silvery— judging from 2 leaves basal half of lower surface lateral leaflets hardly silvery & not well protected from water. [sketch]— basal half lower fa surface
(a)
Very odd.
(June 10th & 16th)
This plant sleeps just like T. repens with the terminal L. very vertical or more commonly bent so much forward as to form a roof. — to the 2 lat. leaflets which stand vertically & rather or very close to each other
June 16. I have now examined 6 additional leaves, choosing largest & smallest & intermediate. In all the wetting was as above described— Yet a trace of silver cd be seen in some. The first leaves after cotyledon are singly orbicular (not their leaflets) & these have bloom on upper surface & none on either in in side of midrib of lower surface.
The cotyledons can be wetted on both surfaces
The bloom on all the leaves is removed by Ether.
(17' moderate rain for 20' no effect, hardly any wind)
[47v]
June 26' I syringed this plant very hard for a some time, but no movement was caused.
(July 12th I have found one leaf with a good deal of silver the wrong half!!
Citation: John van Wyhe, ed. 2002-. The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online. (http://darwin-online.org.uk/)
File last updated 11 July, 2023