My dear Sir

It was exceedingly kind of you to send me so interesting a letter. I will forward it to my son Francis, who has gone to Germany for 2 months, & he will particularly like to read your letter.¹ I have been the more interested by your details, as I published (Gardener’s Chronicle Jan 5 1861 p. 4) a short note with a rude drawing of the Achenes of the Australian Pumilio argyrolepis, which are of a curious shape, like the foot of a man.² If they fall laterally on a damp surface, the exuded mucilage in drying, draws them upright, so that they appear as if gummed with great care to the surface. I afterwards heard that Decaisne had published a paper on the subject in the Ann. des Sciences Nat; & after reading it, looked at the Achenes of Senecio & some other compositæ; but I did not make out the details which you so clearly describe & figure.³ I have placed some of the seeds from your packet, under the microscope, but have as yet failed to see the viscid threads. Possibly this particular lot of seed may not have been quite ripe; for I cannot understand why I now fail to see what I formerly saw.

Believe me. | With cordial thanks. | Yours sincerely. | Charles Darwin.