From G. C. Oxenden 31 May [1862]1
Broome
May 31
Dear Sir
I have just sent you two or three specimens of—Aceras. A. &—Hypopithys— which I found this Morning,2 whilst seeking for “Lizard Orchis”—of which last however I only found 3 Plants—3
—In regard to the Mysterious disappearance of rare plants from localities, wherein they may previously have been abundant, I humbly submit that it admits of satisfactory explanation—4
Your’s most truly | G. Chichester Oxenden
CD annotations
1.1 I have … Hypopithys—] ‘Monotropa?’5 added in margin, pencil
Footnotes
Dated by the relationship to the letters from G. C. Oxenden, 26 May 1862 and 30 May [1862].
Oxenden refers to Aceras anthropophorum (a synonym of Orchis anthropophora), the man orchid, and Monotropa hypopitys (a synonym of Hypopitys monotropa subsp. monotropa ), pinesap, a saprophytic dicotyledon that resembles an orchid. See also letter from G. C. Oxenden, 4 June [1862] and n. 8.
Oxenden probably refers to his correspondence with CD about Ophrys arachnites (a synonym of Ophrys fuciflora, the late spider-orchid), CD’s side of which has not been found, but see the letters from G. C. Oxenden, [before 30 May 1862] and 30 May [1862].
See letter from G. C. Oxenden, 4 June [1862] and n. 8.
Summary
Sends plants.
The disappearance of rare plants from localities where they have been abundant can be explained.
Letter details
- Letter no.
- DCP-LETT-3581
- From
- George Chichester Oxenden
- To
- Charles Robert Darwin
- Sent from
- Broome Canterbury
- Source of text
- DAR 173.2: 51
- Physical description
- ALS 3pp †
Please cite as
Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 3581,” accessed on 14 May 2024, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-3581.xml
Also published in The Correspondence of Charles Darwin, vol. 10
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