RECORD: Darwin, C. R. [1847]. Abstract of Loudon J 'Arboretum et fructicetum'. CUL-DAR71.89-94.  Edited by John van Wyhe (Darwin Online, http://darwin-online.org.uk/)

REVISION HISTORY: Transcribed by Christine Chua and edited by John van Wyhe 8.2021. RN1

NOTE: See record in the Darwin Online manuscript catalogue, enter its Identifier here. Reproduced with the permission of the Syndics of Cambridge University Library and William Huxley Darwin. The volume CUL-DAR71 contains Darwin's abstracts of scientific books.

Darwin recorded reading this work in his 'Books to be read / Books Read' notebook. (1838-1851) Text CUL-DAR119.-

Loudon, John Claudius. 1838. Arboretum et Fructicetum Britannicum; or the trees and shrubs of Britain, native and foreign, delineated and described. 8 vols. London. [1842, 26 December 1847]


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Arboretum et Fruticetum by J. Loudon.

Vol 2. p. 508 Ilex aquifolium ferox the fierce prickly leaved holly) is said by Miller to reproduce itself by seed.

p 680 Gardeners Mag. vol I. p. 471 & vol 4. p. 53 case of half-nectarine & peach

(something like Laburnum?)

p. 780 Rivers has raised seedling Provence roses from Moss. See to Rivers

p. 832 Cratægus oxycantha (common Hawthorn) is as fastigate as Lombardy Poplar discovered by Ronalds in bed of seedlings

p. 833 Glastonbury Thorn seems accurate in its leafing & flowering so early - good case to quote

p. 834 Cratægus monogyna - one style (all thorns very various in this respect) "d'Asso states that the common hawthorn is constantly monogynous in Spain.

p. do var. C. apetala is without petals or very nearly so- (ie abortive petals) at Loddiges Gardens) in his Catalogue

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Vol. 3. p. 1374 is assumed by Mr Masters of Canterbury (a great rearer of Elms) that the U. Americana is identical with the Huntingdon Elm, undoubtedly of English origin - Loudon thinks only 2 species U. campestris & montana.

p. 1375 "In short while Botanists describe & cultivators sow, they will find that nature sports with their labours & seems to delight in setting at fault alike the science of one & the hopes of the other"

p. 1376 Ulmus virens almost evergreen in winter, a Cornish var. frost kills the shoots in some Autumns so that not good for timber (very tender var.)

p. 1384 Bosc has observed that the twisted, (in fibres of wood), broad-leaved & lime-leaved vars of Elm, come tolerably true from seed, speaking of the mass of plants.

p. 1740 Loudon seems to consider Quercus pedunculata = lata sessiflora are species: I thought evidence strongly other way - Now this might be given as case of species being now made - Loudon looks at intermediate form as hybrids, so that there is always this loop-hole.

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p. 1731 Quercus fastigata - treated by Loudon as a certain Var. generally comes true to seed (Nouveau Duhamel), so that Decandolle considered it (see to this) as species - found wild in Pyrenees. If fastigation is hereditary, interesting as bearing on Falconers fastigate Apples.

p. 1732 Q. pendula, very pendulous & the var. hereditary; some begin to show this tendency quite young - others not till 20 years old. Gardeners Mag. vol XII p. 368.

p. 1846 & 1854 The Luccombe oak supposed to be hybrid (two parent tree being near) of cerus & ruber.

p. 1846 "The vars. of Q. cerus may be arranged as deciduous, sub evergreen & evergreen". Is Chinese Privet a true Privet? if so in these two cases, we have evergreeness varying in the species of same genus, & in vars. if of same species.

(It may be truly said, that wherever 2 or 3 species of any tree, though ever so conspicuous & ever so well known, are cultivated, the

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confusion & disputes what are species are infinite. Loudon after trusting chiefly to young trees takes the extreme case of few species & is supported by Henslow. Far from intimate knowledge stopping the confusion - it is British trees which create most - My theory would bring within the proper limits these discussion - it would show that no abstract points, as whether such & such a form was a species or not - but it would leave the attention free to ascertain amount of difference it would not obscure the attempt to ascertain cause of variation, which in the philosophy of Nat. Hist not yet commenced. There is no use in term species when applied to Palaeontology — it is the amount of difference. Already, (see Pictet) in beginning of Work some frenchman has classed species under different heads. This is my theory, if generally admitted would not lessen labour of examination, but it would save names (the opprobrium of N. Hist.) & description each principal form would have to be described & its variation; where forms more distinct, there would be more to be described.

In Rubus & Salix

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a few principal differences would have to be described, with the ranges of variation of each organ. It must & does have bad effect, the chief result in view being an obscure & unknown end - viz whether it is species or not, as if that finished the question. We ought always to bear in mind that every form in nature is blended, & then what would be wanted? why merely to seize, as many types as would show the range of Variation - just as in a variable individual species such as a heterophyllous tree; every leaf is not described, but the principal forms & the courses of variation, (as in Pigeons)

Vol IV.

p. 2150 "In arboriculture, whether for useful or ornamental purposes, a variety is often of as much importance as a species & sometimes indeed of far more so" that for example in Pinus sylvestris the Highland var. is known & acknowledged to produce timber of a superior kind to the common quality," (even when grown together.)

[in margin:] Pinus & Oak might be considered together

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p. 2189 The different vars. (viz Pinus mughus nana &c) are tolerably true from seed, & therefore if the dwarf alpine pines are admitted as vars. of P. sylvestris, dwarfing is hereditary.

p 2489 Juniperus Suecica (quoted as certainly a var.) is said by Miller always to come true from seed - has a more fastigate habit. Does Irish Juniper come true from seed? it is, I think very fastigate

p 2595 Purple-hazel colours the leaves of its stock, when grafted!!! said certainly so, no authority given.


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Citation: John van Wyhe, ed. 2002-. The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online. (http://darwin-online.org.uk/)

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