My dear Hooker

You cannot conceive how the Orchids have delighted me.² They came safe, but box rather smashed: cylindrical old cocoa or snuff cannister much safer.— I enclose Postage.— As on account of movement I shall allude to what I suppose is Oncidium, to make certain is enclosed flower with crumpled petals this genus.—³ Also I most specially want to know what enclosed little globular brown Orchid is. I have only seen pollen of a Cattleya on a Bee,⁴ but surely have you not unintentionally sent me what I wanted most (after Catasetum or Mormodes) viz one of the Epidendreæ?!—⁵ I particularly want (& will presently tell you why) another spike of this little Orchid, with older flowers, some even almost withered, as the rostellum evidently does not come into action soon: I think only way would be to tie spike to thin elastic stick & jam stick in cannister the stick also serving to keep piece of damp blotting paper or anything else from touching the flowers. Why I want to study rostellum is that the pollen is intermediate between the two great types, as I daresay may be well known. (A) is waxy with no threads— (B) consists of a mass of pollen-grains united by elastic threads, & has exactly the structure of pollinia of Epipactis. So that (B) is in part functionally a caudicle, in structure a mass of pollen. I believe this explains the genesis of the caudicle of Orchis. By abortions of parts from this pollinium, almost any other could be made. Hence I am inclined to look at this as the prototype, & I am intensely curious to understand well the rostellum.⁶

Did you not think that Stelis was all in bud; I did, for the sepals were so exactly closed; but as yet, I have only one flower, that on apex, which had not been visited by some insect & had its pollinia removed. Can you tell me whence (what country) this Stelis comes, as it is so attractive to British Insects?—⁷

Can you easily tell me name of larger brown orchis in bud with curved peduncles? I have not yet examined it though I have worked all day.—

I grieve to hear that I cannot see an Arethusa (Vanilla belongs to same type I see in Lindley’s Veg. K.) for then I sh^d. have seen all great leading types.—⁸ You have given me intense enjoyment.—

Yours affect^ly & tired | C. Darwin

I am sorry to hear about death of Baby.—⁹ William soon joins Bank. William has been examining seeds of Groundsell,—wonderful case¹⁰