To J. D. Hooker [13 June 1870?]1
Seeds ripened in Algiers: imported seed would be of no use.—
| Iberis amara | |
| — | umbellata, especially any red var. as Kermiseana2 |
| Nolana prostrata3 | |
| Hibiscus Africanus4 | |
| Canna Warzewizi5 | |
| Mimulus luteus, garden var. yellowish or whitish flowers, blotched with purplish-red or orange-brown.6 | |
C. Darwin
Footnotes
The date is conjectured on the supposition that the memorandum was handed to Hooker when he visited Down on 13 June 1870 (letter to St G. J. Mivart, 13 June [1870]). See also the letters to J. D. Hooker, 25 May [1870] and [29 June 1870], and the letter from J. D. Hooker, 10 July 1870.
The variety Kermesiana (as CD spells it in Cross and self fertilisation, p. 103), has not been identified. CD raised plants of a red variety of Iberis umbellata from seed bought in England, and crossed them with pollen from plants raised from seed sent from Algiers (Cross and self fertilisation, p. 105).
Nolana prostrata is a synonym of N. paradoxa, Chilean-bellflower. CD had carried out crossing experiments with N. prostrata in 1862 and 1867 (Cross and self fertilisation), but mentions no further experiments.
CD carried out crossing experiments with Hibiscus africanus (a synonym of H. trionum, bladder ketmia; Cross and self fertilisation, pp. 140–1), but did not mention using seed from Algiers.
Canna warszewiczii is now C. indica. CD carried out crossing experiments with C. warszewiczii (Cross and self fertilisation, pp. 230–3), but did not mention using seed from Algiers.
Mimulus luteus is a synonym of Erythranthe lutea, yellow monkeyflower. After the list and before the signature, Hooker wrote, ‘A little of each is enough.’
Bibliography
Cross and self fertilisation: The effects of cross and self fertilisation in the vegetable kingdom. By Charles Darwin. London: John Murray. 1876.
Summary
Orders seeds, ripened in Algiers; imported seed would be of no use. [Forwarded to Algiers by JDH, see 7272.]
Letter details
- Letter no.
- DCP-LETT-7210
- From
- Charles Robert Darwin
- To
- Joseph Dalton Hooker
- Sent from
- unstated
- Source of text
- American Philosophical Society (Mss.B.D25.)
- Physical description
- ALS 1p memS †
Please cite as
Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 7210,” accessed on 19 April 2024, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-7210.xml
Also published in The Correspondence of Charles Darwin, vol. 18
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