My dear Gray

I said in my last note that I was at work on Pinguicula.¹ Well it proves an excellent digester of fibrin; albumin, meat, &c. It has also interested me to find that if a row of flies be placed near the margin, the edge of the leaf in the course of 2 or 3 h^rs turns over, so as to bring the secreti⁠⟨⁠ng⁠⟩⁠ and absorbing glands into contact with the upper as well as the lower surface of the flies. But the point which has interested me most is that the leaves certainly absorb nutritious matter from little leaves & seeds which are blown onto them. Hence the plant is certainly not only insectivorous, but graminivorous & granivorous! I have had a lot of leaves sent me from N. Wales;² & it is extremely rare to find a single leaf without more than one captured insect. Each had also more than one leaf, on an average of some other plant adhering to them; and two seed-capsules   But it is rather too early in the year I suppose for seeds. Now does Pinguicula grow anywhere near you? & if so would you look to a certain number of leaves, & tell me whether you find any seeds (& kinds) or leaves of other plants adhering to them. This would be valuable aid. It will amuse me much to make a good case about the omnivorous habits of this plant³

Yours very sincerely | Ch. Darwin