To W. E. Darwin [10 May 1863]1
Leith Hill
Sunday night
My dear William.—
I received Anchusa flowers safe but in broken box.2 It is a splendid case, & I would not have missed seeing the flowers for anything. You must try & get me some seed; for it will be most necessary to test fertility; for the case will probably explain the state of Echium &c.—3 Your observations on Corydalis seem extremely curious: the specimens which you sent, were rather withered (the plant withers so easily) & I did not examine them carefully.— I never saw anything like the very curious points which you describe in C. lutea; but I may have overlooked all.—4
Certainly it does not occur in Fumaria.— As I intend to discuss fertilisation of Fumariaceæ, I shd. very much like some seed of your species.5 Could you easily get some?— The seed in this family, I think, generally ripens soon.—
I shd like to cover up some plants, & watch insects at work.—
Hearty thanks for all your splendid facts.— We go home on Wednesday morning.—6 Poor dear little Skimp keeps very indifferent; but he has some enjoyment, every day.—7 I cannot boast much of myself. I have observed nothing curious. But George & I saw Bees of various species & genera fertilising Orchis morio.8 Your Corydalis case must be somewhat like kidney Bean & the big Lathyrus.9
Goodnight, my dear old fellow. How does Mr Fold, Mr Fould Mr Foole, (what is his name?) get on in health?10 Read Bates’ Book; you will like it—11 good night | C. Darwin
Footnotes
Summary
Thanks WED for his botanical specimens and observations.
Discusses Corydalis and the fertilisation of Fumariaceae.
Letter details
- Letter no.
- DCP-LETT-4151
- From
- Charles Robert Darwin
- To
- William Erasmus Darwin
- Sent from
- Leith Hill Place
- Source of text
- DAR 210.6: 111
- Physical description
- 4pp
Please cite as
Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 4151,” accessed on 16 February 2019, http://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/DCP-LETT-4151
Also published in The Correspondence of Charles Darwin, vol. 11