From T. F. Cheeseman 27 June 1873
Auckland, New Zealand,
June 27th. 1873.
Dear Sir.
The well known interest which you take in the fertilisation of Orchids, has induced me to forward you the enclosed copy of a paper contributed by me to the New Zealand Institute; in which I have attempted to describe the singular contrivances in our species of Pterostylis.1 I thought, too, that the regret you express, in your book on the subject, at not being able to examine any species with an irritable labellum,2 might be advanced as an additional excuse for the liberty I have taken in sending you an account of a mode of fertilisation depending entirely on this irritability.
My observations, and the experiments I have made, seem to me to fully warrant the conclusions I have arrived at in my paper. I should much like, however, if it would not be trespassing too much on your good nature, to have your opinion on the subject.3 Do you not think that the Australian Genus Calæna, in which the labellum is even more irritable than in Pterostylis, is likely to be fertilised in an analogous manner? I have not seen recent specimens, but the plant is so nearly allied to Pterostylis that this view seems highly probable
If it would be of any use to you I should be happy to forward you specimens of our Orchidea or to procure you any information in my power.
I remain | Yours very faithfully | Thos. F. Cheeseman
Charles Darwin Esq F.R.S....
Footnotes
Bibliography
Cheeseman, Thomas Frederick. 1872. On the fertilization of the New Zealand species of Pterostylis. Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute 5: 352–7.
Orchids 2d ed.: The various contrivances by which orchids are fertilised by insects. By Charles Darwin. 2d edition, revised. London: John Murray. 1877.
Orchids: On the various contrivances by which British and foreign orchids are fertilised by insects, and on the good effects of intercrossing. By Charles Darwin. London: John Murray. 1862.
Summary
Sends his paper on fertilisation of the New Zealand species of the orchid Pterostylis [Trans. & Proc. New Zealand Inst. 4 (1871): 270–84].
Letter details
- Letter no.
- DCP-LETT-8955
- From
- Thomas Frederick Cheeseman
- To
- Charles Robert Darwin
- Sent from
- Auckland
- Source of text
- DAR 161: 137
- Physical description
- ALS 3pp & ACCS 3pp
Please cite as
Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 8955,” accessed on 19 April 2024, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-8955.xml
Also published in The Correspondence of Charles Darwin, vol. 21