Dear Sir.

I thank you sincerely for the trouble which you have taken in sending me so long & interesting a letter, together with the specimens.¹ Gradations are always very valuable, & you have been remarkably successful in discovering the stages by which the Plantago has become gyno-diœcious— Your view of its origin from being proterogynous, seems to me very probable especially as the females are generally the later flowering plants.² If you can prove the reverse case with Thymus your view will manifestly be rendered still more probable— I have never felt satisfied with H. Müller’s view, though he is so careful & admirable an observer.³ It is more than 17 years since I attended to Plantago; & when nothing had been published on the subject, & in consequence I omitted to attend to several points,—& now after so long an interval, I cannot pretend to say to which of your forms, the English one belongs; I well remember that the anther of the females contained a good deal pollen, though not one sound grain.—⁴

Once again thanking you for your kindness, I remain with much respect— Dear Sir | Yours faithfully. | Ch. Darwin.

P.S. | Delpino⁵ is Professor of Botany in Genoa Italy; I have always found him a most obliging correspondent.