From Asa Gray 28 December 1875
Botanic Garden, | Cambridge, Mass.
Dec. 28, 1875
My Dear Darwin
Did I ever write you my thanks for the copy of the volume on Climbing Plants, which you, in your wonted kindness, sent me some time ago?1 I am uncertain—but it must have been a mere line, if anything.
I have only now had time to look at it. I have announced it here at close of a short review of Insectivorous Plants, in Amer. Jour. Sci. for Jany.2 And I have written so long a notice of both books, but mainly the Insectivorous, for the Nation that it will be divided. I think we shall have a part of it this week.3
I see a little matter in which I can help you out.
On p. 198, you say of Maurandia that, with little more ado, it might grasp a support by its flower-peduncles. Well, I think it does that sometimes. I am so confident it does so in M. antirrhiniflora (which, by the way I have, from the structure of the corolla referred back to Antirrhinum) that I turned to my herbarium for specimens to show it.4 But I find none that are unequivocal.
But there are two Californian species which have lost it wholly in the petioles (these being short or none) and have tactile peduncles instead.
One is Maurandia stricta Hook. & Arn. = my Antirrhinum strictum.5 This is upright, with long filiform peduncles disposed to coil. Apparently they have little opportunity. The other—from the interior, is my Antirrhinum (Maurandella) Cooperi,—a very slender, branching, straggling thing, with very long filiform peduncles, which coil freely when they reach anything, making 2 or 3 turns around the support, at least 2 turns are common in the dried specimens.6
Of course I can help you to none with abortive flowers.
As to transitions from branches to tendrils, I was interested in 3 or 4 Californian species of Antirrhinum that show that, A. coulterianum & A. vagans are the two best.7 They are not in cultivation; but seeds have been received of the former this year, & we may grow them next year. Evidently they are not of a sort to develope into revolving tendrils,—but are more like the hooking branches of some tropical shrubs,—and some are peduncles.
I am very well, & my wife8 tolerably so. We both send very best wishes to you and yours for the New Year.
Ever Yours sincerely | Asa Gray
CD annotations
Footnotes
Bibliography
Climbing plants 2d ed.: The movements and habits of climbing plants. 2d edition. By Charles Darwin. London: John Murray. 1875.
Insectivorous plants. By Charles Darwin. London: John Murray. 1875.
Summary
AG’s notices of Insectivorous plants [Nation 22 (1876): 12–14, 30–2]
and Climbing plants [2d ed., Am. J. Sci. 3d ser. 11 (1876): 69–74].
Use of flower peduncles for support in Maurandia. Transition from branches to tendrils.
Letter details
- Letter no.
- DCP-LETT-10329
- From
- Asa Gray
- To
- Charles Robert Darwin
- Sent from
- Botanic Garden, Cambridge, Mass.
- Source of text
- DAR 165: 189
- Physical description
- ALS 4pp †
Please cite as
Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 10329,” accessed on 18 April 2024, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-10329.xml
Also published in The Correspondence of Charles Darwin, vol. 23
