The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online

RECORD: Darwin, C. R. 1877. [Letter to Thomas Brittain, 1874]. Apocynum androsæmifolium. Hardwicke's Science-Gossip 13, no. 147 (March): 68.

Thomas Brittain (1806-1884), a naturalist and accountant, later sent Darwin's complete letter to the Manchester City News (24 June 1882) from whence it was republished in Correspondence vol. 24 where it is noted: "See letter from Thomas Brittain. 30 November 1876. Apocynum androsaemifohum (fly-trap dogbane) traps small flies and moths by their tongues in the flower's V-shaped nectaries. Their proper pollinators, long-tongued butterflies, are able to avoid the trap." The full text from the Manchester City News:

"THE DOWNS, BECKENHAM (Kent). December 1, 1876. Dear sir,— I am much obliged to you for calling my attention to the very curious case of the Apocynum. I am quite unable to understand the meaning of this trap-like arrangement. I do not believe that it is of any benefit to the plant, and certainly it is none to the unfortunate insects. I have at present a plant in my hot-house, and if it flowers I shall attempt to solve the problem. I may mention that a well-known naturalist in Brazil, Fritz Müller, has been hitherto baffled in trying to understand this plant.— Dear sir, yours faithfully, CH. DARWIN."

Brittain later wrote to Francis Darwin on 5 July 1882 and enclosed a copy of the letter in the Manchester City News. Brittain's letter is transcribed in Darwin Online CUL-DAR198.28.

There were four replies to this item in subsequent issues of Hardwicke's Science-Gossip. The letter was reprinted in Manchester City News, 24 June 1882 (F3461) but including Darwin's (mis-copied) address and date "The Downs, Beckenham (Kent). / December 1, 1876.", "Dear sir—" and valediction "Dear sir, yours faithfully | CH. DARWIN." It is therefore not copied from Hardwicke's Science-Gossip. The latter was reproduced in Correspondence vol. 24, p. 362.

[page] 68

APOCYNUM ANDROSÆMIFOLIUM.— Mr. T. Brittain, who communicated the fact of this plant probably being "carnivorous," has forwarded to us the following copy of a letter from Mr. Charles Darwin on the subject:—¹ "I am much obliged to you for calling my attention to the very curious case of the Apocynum. I am quite unable to understand the meaning of this trap-like arrangement. I do not believe that it is of any benefit to the plant, and certainly it is none to the unfortunate insects. I have at present a plant in my hot-house, and if it flowers I shall attempt to solve the problem. I may mention that a well-known naturalist in Brazil, Fritz Müller, has been hitherto baffled in trying to understand this plant."

¹ Brittain had written about Apocynum androsæmifolium in Hardwicke's Science-Gossip 13 (January): 18. On p. 72 Brittain sought exchange for insectivorous plants and gave his address as 8, York-street, Manchester.

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