Darwin Correspondence Project

Down Bromley Kent

Nov. 9th 1855

Dear Sir

The seeds came safe to hand & I thank you most sincerely for having taken so much trouble to procure them. I received them some time since, & had them planted in the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, but have not heard whether they have germinated.

I found that they floated during the ten days, which I tried them, as was indeed probable, though so opposed to what ordinarily happens with seeds.— Owing to Dr Hookers absence there has been a delay in getting them correctly named. Will you be so kind as to give my very sincere thanks to Professor Blytt & tell him that the large seed is the Entada scandens, (or Acacia scandens as so called by Linnæus who specifies that this seed is cast up); it is a common West & East India seed.—

The smaller seed in the Mucuna urens, (also a Leguminous plant) common in the West Indies, & called there very appropriately “Asses or Bullocks eyes”.—

I saw Colonel Sabine lately & gave him your message, & begged to be kindly remembered to you: he is actively engaged in scientific researches.

Should you obtain any other kind of seed, I shd be grateful for it, but will not trouble you to send anymore of those already received.

Pray accept my very sincere & cordial thanks & believe me dear Sir | With much respect | Yours truly obliged | Charles Darwin