From Daniel Oliver [15–16 October 1860]
Summary
Extracts from botanical literature dealing with Dionaea, intercrossing, and sensitivity. [Bot. Ztg. (1833): 96; Thomas Nuttall, Genera of N. American plants (1818)].
| Author: | Daniel Oliver |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | [15–16 Oct 1860] |
| Classmark: | DAR 58.2: 53 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-2623 |
To Daniel Oliver [29 September 1860]
Summary
Requests Dionaea now that he knows Drosera so well. Wants to compare fluids secreted; in Drosera they are acid and have antiseptic effect on meat.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Daniel Oliver |
| Date: | [29 Sept 1860] |
| Classmark: | DAR 261.10: 15 (EH 88205999) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-2941 |
To Daniel Oliver [31? October 1860]
Summary
The best way to see cell movement in Drosera hair, is to cut off those lately inflected over a fly, sketch shape of red matter under high power, and repeat after one or two minutes.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Daniel Oliver |
| Date: | [31? Oct 1860] |
| Classmark: | DAR 261.10: 19 (EH 88206003) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-2952 |
To Daniel Oliver 17 October [1860]
Summary
Thanks for information and extracts.
M. A. Curtis, quoted in ["Dionaea"] Penny encyclopedia [(1837) 8: 508], gives the only full account of Dionaea.
Concurs in DO’s explanation of Dionaea footstalk cells, which CD took for stomata.
Is using carbonate of ammonia as a substitute for flies and colour change in glands as index of action on Drosera. Suspects other nitrogenous compounds do not act till decomposed into carbonate of ammonia. Beginning to write Drosera paper. Action of nitrogenous compounds.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Daniel Oliver |
| Date: | 17 Oct [1860] |
| Classmark: | DAR 261.10: 18 (EH 88206002) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-2951 |
To Daniel Oliver 14 October [1860]
Summary
Has examined nearly all British orchids.
Hooker’s error on Listera.
Change in colour and consistency of Drosera hair glands after leaf inflection. Analogous structures in Dionaea. Requests Oliver confirm these observations on live plants, of which he has none.
In a muddle over the effects of salts on insectivorous plants.
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Daniel Oliver |
| Date: | 14 Oct [1860] |
| Classmark: | DAR 261.10: 17 (EH 88206001) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-2949 |
To Daniel Oliver 11 September [1860]
Summary
Requests observations on Drosera and Dionaea,
and asks DO to look up Buchanan and Wight on insectivorous plants ["Conspectus of Indian Utricularia", Hooker’s J. Bot. 1 (1849): 372–4].
| Author: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Addressee: | Daniel Oliver |
| Date: | 11 Sept [1860] |
| Classmark: | DAR 261.10: 9 (EH 88205993) |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-2913 |
From Daniel Oliver 25 September 1860
Summary
His results with pure gum on Drosera spathulata entirely support CD’s opinion. Other observations on insectivorous plants.
| Author: | Daniel Oliver |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | 25 Sept 1860 |
| Classmark: | DAR 58.1: 1–3 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-2927 |
| letter | (7) |
| Darwin, C. R. | (5) |
| Oliver, Daniel | (2) |
| Oliver, Daniel | (5) |
| Darwin, C. R. | (2) |
| Darwin, C. R. | (7) |
| Oliver, Daniel |
| 1860 | (7) |
Insectivorous plants
Summary
Darwin’s work on insectivorous plants began by accident. While on holiday in the summer of 1860, staying with his wife’s relatives in Hartfield, Sussex, he went for long walks on the heathland and became curious about the large number of insects caught by…
Matches: 1 hits
- … Darwin’s work on insectivorous plants began by accident. While on holiday in the summer of 1860, …
Darwin's in letters, 1873: Animal or vegetable?
Summary
Having laboured for nearly five years on human evolution, sexual selection, and the expression of emotions, Darwin was able to devote 1873 almost exclusively to his beloved plants. He resumed work on the digestive powers of sundews and Venus fly traps, and…
Matches: 1 hits
- … Having laboured for nearly five years on human evolution, sexual selection, and the expression of …
Darwin in letters, 1874: A turbulent year
Summary
The year 1874 was one of consolidation, reflection, and turmoil for Darwin. He spent the early months working on second editions of Coral reefs and Descent of man; the rest of the year was mostly devoted to further research on insectivorous plants. A…
Matches: 1 hits
- … The year 1874 was one of consolidation, reflection, and turmoil for Darwin. He spent the early …
