Dear Oliver

I remember looking in such Books as I had for explanation of the ovarium of Primula; which I found something like this, viz a knob in middle covered with ovules, which sent a thin stilyform process up centre of style. I could not make out from Books what this latter part was.² Last autumn I potted some Primroses; a long-styled plant is now in flower which in almost all its flowers has 3 rather short pistils with stigmas (5 stamens &c as usual); the three styles become a little foliaceous at base but are not united, so that by pulling them a little asunder without tearing you can see right into the ovarium with its ovules; & there is no central process from knob.— If capable of fertilisation the pollen tubes must go to base of knob & then turn up to ovules. I have put a few flowers in spirits. The case does not concern me;³ & I mention it solely for chance of your caring for it, or for its throwing any light on morphology of ovarium in Primula.— It looks as if knob with ovules was prolongation of axis.

If you care for specimens per Railway or want me to ascertain whether these flowers can be fertilised, please write;⁴ if not I shall understand that specimens may be thrown away.—

Please tell Hooker I sh^d. like to see flowers in tin-box of Edwardsia tetraptera;⁵ & I sh^d like to see 2 or 3 leaves or bracts of Marcgravia, which Lindley speaks of as approaching in structure to pitchers of nepenthes.—⁶ Pods of Orchis—⁷ Poplars.—⁸

Dear Oliver | Yours very truly | C. Darwin

I think I will put pollen right on to ovules & cut off the stigmas & see if I can thus directly fertilise the ovules.—

P.S. 25^th | Tell Hooker I have just received his interesting letter,⁹ & will write soon. About Poplars suffice with particular thanks; perhaps he would look just once again for Bees on fine day, & gently again, shake branch.—

Case interests me on account of willows.

You shall surely have copy of Linum paper whenever I get copy—¹⁰

I am baddish today so no more—