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Summary

Thanks LEB for the Lychnis seed [see 4258], which he will plant in the hope of fertilising the little ovaria.

Comments on the two forms of Linum.

Transcription

Down. | Bromley. | Kent. S.E.

Augt. 2d.

Dear Madam.

I am very much obliged for the Lychnis seed, which shall be sown immediately;f2 & I will try, as you have done, next year to fertilise the little ovaria.—

It is odd about the Linum; I have never failed to find the two forms, though they certainly resemble each other closely.—f3

In Haste, | Dear Madam | Your sincerely obliged | Ch. Darwin

Footnotes

f1
The year is established by the relationship between this letter and the letter from L. E. Becker, 31 July [1863].
f2
Becker enclosed a hermaphrodite plant of the usually dioecious Lychnis diurna (L. dioica), bearing a seed capsule, with her letter of 31 July [1863].
f3
Becker reported having a pot of scarlet Linum, all the seedlings of which had the long-styled flower form (see letter from L. E. Becker, 31 July [1863]).

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