Summary

Describes variability in the stamens and pollen of Lagerstroemia, which CD spoke of in Forms of flowers.

Also reports on similar phenomena in Pontederiacea (Heteranthera reniformis).

Has received from Paul Mayer an interesting paper on metamorphosis in Palaemonetes varians, which is also being studied by J. E. V. Boas in Denmark. Shows differences between larval development in Danish forms and those found in southern Italy.

Summary

In his last letter FM told CD about four flowers of Lagerstroemia that he had fertilised with the yellow pollen of another variety or species and which had subsequently fallen off. He has now repeated the experiment using the yellow pollen of a different variety and successfully produced good fruit as large as that fertilised with green pollen.

Summary

FM’s view on meaning of two-coloured stamens in many flowers; CD has been looking through his old notes on dimorphism for supporting evidence. Intends to send extract of FM’s letter to Nature or to Linnean Society.

Summary

Earthworm book with printer.

Has sent FM’s observations on paraheliotropism to Nature ["Movement of leaves", Collected papers 2: 228–9].

Plants with differently coloured anthers.

Intends gathering together his notes on "bloom".

Summary

Thanks CD for letter of 10 September [13326]

and for copy of Nature.

Reports on Lagerstroemia experiments.

Has been making observations on what happens to plants following heavy rain. Sends CD three specimens to show how dirt attaches to the undersides of leaves.

Summary

Wants plants with two sets of anthers of different colours. Fritz Müller letter [13041a] has made him wish to renew experiments and observations carried out 20 years ago.

Summary

Concurs in CD’s criticism of Thomas Meehan [see 13360].

Summary

Glad WB has arrived in Brazil. Suggests study of insects and study of fertilisation in Melastomataceae. Want of books is not a serious evil.

Summary

Waxy secretion or "bloom" on leaves.

FM’s article on Crotalaria.

Summary

Discusses difficulties involved in plant experiment designed to test Pangenesis.

Summary

Comments on CVR’s paper [‘Further notes on the pollination of Yucca and on Pronuba and Prodoxus’, Proc. Am. Assoc. Adv. Sci. (1880): 617–39]. ‘What an inaccurate man Mr Thomas Meehan is.’ Interested in further observations on Pronuba.

Summary

Has looked at BJS’s grapes. Can give no explanation of the case.

Summary

Report on the progress of his experiments with potatoes; some varieties spoilt by an apparently hereditary disease.

Summary

CD interested by FM’s facts on movement of plants; has sent some to Nature ["Movement of leaves", Collected papers 2: 228–9]. Greatly admires FM’s work. Suggests an experiment to investigate movement in Phyllanthus.

Summary

Thanks for gift of Movement in plants.

Plans botanical research in Brazil.

Hermann von Jhering is conducting experiments on snakes.

WB obliged to work as newspaper correspondent.

Plans breeding experiments on dimorphic plants.

Summary

Gives further details on his grapes.

Tells of his recent movements and state of health.

Summary

Has just received CD’s letter of 12 April [13113]. To answer CD’s query, Heteranthera reniformis is an amphibious plant that grows as well on moist ground as it does in ditches filled with water.

For the past few weeks has been observing Phyllanthus plants that had shown the irregular movement in leaves returning from the positions assumed at night, but none has repeated the irregularity. Perhaps the progeny from the seeds he has collected will inherit the tendency for irregular movement.

Describes his observations of the power of movement in Cassia, Desmodium, and a few other plants.

Paul Mayer has identified seven new species of insects FM found in nine different species of figs.

Summary

Thanks for CD’s offer of assistance after flood damage.

Comments on Movement in plants. Discusses sleep movements and paraheliotropism of Maranta and other plants.

Describes the fertilisation of figs by Hymenoptera.