From J. T. Moggridge 15 July [1864]1
The Willows | Swansea
July 15.
Dear Sir
I consider myself very fortunate in being able to send seed of a Trichonema growing at Mentone, but it was indiscriminately gathered—2
I enclose 1 bulb with dried leaves & flower attached of this rare plant, with seed— It was named by Parlatore,3 Romulea Rollii. The other packet contains some of its seed also, but there may be mixed with it seed of Trichonema bulbicodium, as this was collected at a different time, by a a different hand.
I shall be only too delighted to have the occupation of getting the bulbs & seeds you require, when I (D.V.) return to Mentone. but do not feel quite sure what I am to understand by the expression “different individual groups— Is it that you want them taken from varied situations & exposures?— or do you refer to groups into which the genus may have been divided?
There is but one habitat known at Mentone for Romulea Rollii, where on a small damp flat near the beach it tangles in with coarse grass, growing in great profusion—
The other representative Romulea or Trichonema bulbicodium is found near the shore in 3 or 4 localities, often near streams.—
I moreover take the liberty of enclosing specimens shewing the two forms in Primula marginata, on which I have lately been at work.4 Primula latifolia is also dimorphic, but less markedly so.— It is a curious fact that at Mentone the Primrose grows on the shore & less frequently high up, but Oxlips & Cowslips are only to be found at elevations of from 2800 to 3600 feet; thus becoming, or being, of distinct geographical range.
Pray excuse my lengthened letter: & hoping that you will not think of troubling to write thanks which I take for granted
believe me | yrs. very sincerely | J. Traherne. Moggridge.
CD annotations
Footnotes
Bibliography
Collected papers: The collected papers of Charles Darwin. Edited by Paul H. Barrett. 2 vols. Chicago and London: University of Chicago Press. 1977.
‘Dimorphic condition in Primula’: On the two forms, or dimorphic condition, in the species of Primula, and on their remarkable sexual relations. By Charles Darwin. [Read 21 November 1861.] Journal of the Proceedings of the Linnean Society (Botany) 6 (1862): 77–96. [Collected papers 2: 45–63.]
Freeman, Richard Broke. 1978. Charles Darwin: a companion. Folkestone, Kent: William Dawson & Sons. Hamden, Conn.: Archon Books, Shoe String Press.
Willis, John Christopher. 1973. A dictionary of the flowering plants and ferns. 8th edition. Revised by H. K. Airy Shaw. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Summary
Sends seeds of Trichonema and bulb and leaves of Romulea rollii, plus specimens showing two forms of Primula marginata.
Letter details
- Letter no.
- DCP-LETT-4567
- From
- John Traherne Moggridge
- To
- Charles Robert Darwin
- Sent from
- Swansea
- Source of text
- DAR 110: A29–30
- Physical description
- ALS 3pp †
Please cite as
Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 4567,” accessed on 28 March 2024, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-4567.xml
Also published in The Correspondence of Charles Darwin, vol. 12