RECORD: Darwin, C. R. 1862.11.12. Dichogamy / Isotoma (a Lobeliad). CUL-DAR76.B86-B87. Edited by John van Wyhe (Darwin Online, http://darwin-online.org.uk/)

REVISION HISTORY: Transcribed by Christine Chua and edited by John van Wyhe 12.2022. 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 volumes CUL-DAR 76-79 contain material for Darwin's book Cross and self fertilisation (1876).


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Dichogamy

Isotoma (a Lobeliad) white flow. Nov. 12. 1862. has curious long pointed filament from summit of united anthers, projecting rectangularly into gangway to nectary; when struck as must be by insect, pollen is shaken on to insect. After most pollen spilt, stigma protrudes & open, as in Lobelia. —

5 plants in pots in Greenhouse, were not watched, but were not seen to be visited by bees & produced 12 24 good pods & 13 very poor pods (= 37 pods altogether) ─12 good pods yielded 6.1 gr. of seed. 24 [+] 13 [=] 37

5 plants protected from insects in Greenhouse, & seemed equally healthy, produced only 16 good pods & 20 36 very poor ones (= 36 altogether)

12 of the good pods yielded only 3.5 gr of seed. — Hence it would appear that

[86v]

[calculations not transcribed]

[87]

covering checked in every way production of seed; we may say uncovered produced in 24 pods 12.2 gr & 16 covered pods produced only 4.66 gr. — But we learn fact, that Isotoma is considerably self-fertile — I presume pollen not well scraped out on anther.


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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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