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From Asa Gray   [August 1857]

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Summary

States he has "misgivings about the definiteness of species". Believes there is some inherent tendency for plants to originate varieties. Cross-fertilisation is likely in most cases but sees difficulties with plants like Adlumia.

Author:  Asa Gray
Addressee:  Charles Robert Darwin
Date:  [Aug 1857]
Classmark:  DAR 165: 100, 101
Letter no:  DCP-LETT-2129

Matches: 7 hits

  • … From Asa Gray   [August 1857] …
  • … DAR 165: 100, 101 Asa Gray unstated [Aug 1857] Charles Robert Darwin …
  • … letter falls between the letters to Asa Gray , 20 July [1857] and 5 September [1857] . …
  • … is responding to CD’s letter to Asa Gray, 20 July [1857] , in which CD revealed his belief …
  • … the earlier discussion of this point in the letter to Asa Gray, 18 June [1857] , and the …
  • … letter from Asa Gray, 7 July 1857 . …
  • … See letter to Asa Gray, 20 July [1857] . The chapter numbers refer to chapter 3, ‘On the …

From Asa Gray   7 July 1857

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Summary

Believes, with CD, that extinction may be an important factor in explaining plant distributions, but sees no reason why the several species of a genus must ever have had a common or continuous area. "Convince me of that, or show me any good grounds for it … and I think you would carry me a good way with you". It is just such people as AG that CD has to satisfy and convince.

Feels that the crossing of individuals is important in repressing variation and perhaps in perpetuating the species, but instances some plants in which it cannot, apparently, take place.

Author:  Asa Gray
Addressee:  Charles Robert Darwin
Date:  7 July 1857
Classmark:  DAR 205.9: 381; DAR 165: 98
Letter no:  DCP-LETT-2120

Matches: 9 hits

  • … From Asa Gray   7 July 1857
  • … H.  C. Watson, 10 March 1857 , letter from H.  C. Watson to Asa Gray, 13 March 1857 , and …
  • … of A.  Gray 1856–7 (see letter to Asa Gray, 9 May [1857] , and …
  • … letter from Asa Gray, 1 June 1857 ). A.   …
  • … Gray 1857a . See letter to Asa Gray, 18 June [1857] . Gray refers to CD’s belief in …
  • … DAR 205.9: 381; DAR 165: 98 Asa Gray Cambridge, Mass. 7 July 1857 Charles Robert Darwin …
  • … letter to Asa Gray, [after 15 March 1857] . A duplicate copy of the third part …
  • … See letter to Asa Gray, 20 July [1857] . J.  D. Hooker and Thomson 1855. Jean Louis …
  • … cross-fertilised (see letters to Asa Gray , [after 15 March 1857] and 18 June [1857] ). …

From Asa Gray   1 June 1857

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Summary

Comments on species with disjoined ranges; does not feel, despite CD’s expectations, that they tend to belong to small families.

Gives the proportion of U. S. trees in which the sexes are separate [see Natural selection, p. 62].

Author:  Asa Gray
Addressee:  Charles Robert Darwin
Date:  1 June 1857
Classmark:  DAR 8: 47bA
Letter no:  DCP-LETT-2098

Matches: 7 hits

  • … From Asa Gray   1 June 1857
  • … DAR 8: 47bA Asa Gray Cambridge, Mass. 1 June 1857 Charles Robert Darwin …
  • … See letter to Asa Gray, 9 May [1857] . …
  • … See letters to Asa Gray , 1 January [1857] and [after 15 March 1857] . Gray refers to his …
  • … United States in A.  Gray 1856–7 , p.  400. See letter to Asa Gray, 9 May [1857] . …
  • … See letter to Asa Gray, [after 15 March 1857] , in which CD enclosed some notes and a …
  • … See letter from Asa Gray , [ c . 24 May 1857]. …

From H. C. Watson to Asa Gray   13 March 1857

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Summary

Describes problems of classifying species in highly variable genera. Lists highly variable genera. Comments on the list of Asa Gray. Says species may be made to appear more or less variable according to whether a genus is divided into few or many species.

Author:  Hewett Cottrell Watson
Addressee:  Asa Gray
Date:  13 Mar 1857
Classmark:  DAR 181: 36
Letter no:  DCP-LETT-2065

Matches: 5 hits

  • … DAR 181: 36 Hewett Cottrell Watson unstated 13 Mar 1857 Asa Gray
  • … From H.  C. Watson to Asa Gray    13 March 1857
  • … Backhouse 1856 . See letter from Asa Gray, 16 February 1857 . The underscoring has been …
  • … to Asa Gray (see letter to Asa Gray, [after 15 March 1857] ). These notes are for Asa …
  • … United States (see letter to Asa Gray, [after 15 March 1857] ). CD’s letter has not been …

To Asa Gray   18 June [1857]

Summary

Thanks for AG’s remarks on disjoined species. CD’s notions are based on belief that disjoined species have suffered much extinction, which is the common cause of small genera and disjoined ranges.

Discusses out-crossing in plants.

Has failed to meet with a detailed account of regular and normal impregnation in the bud. Podostemon, Subularia, and underwater Leguminosae are the strongest cases against him.

Author:  Charles Robert Darwin
Addressee:  Asa Gray
Date:  18 June [1857]
Classmark:  Archives of the Gray Herbarium, Harvard University (9a)
Letter no:  DCP-LETT-2109

Matches: 8 hits

  • … To Asa Gray   18 June [1857] …
  • … of the flora of the northern United States’ (see letter from Asa Gray, 1 June 1857 ). …
  • … In letter from Asa Gray, 7 July 1857 , Gray informed CD that he had dispatched the memoir …
  • … two’ the letters from Hewett Cottrell Watson . See letter to Asa Gray, 9 May [1857] , and …
  • … letter from Asa Gray, 1 June 1857 . J.  D. …
  • … Steudel 1840–1. See letter to Asa Gray , I January [1857], in which CD first mentioned …
  • Gray Herbarium, Harvard University (9a) Charles Robert Darwin Moor Park Down letterhead 18 June [1857] Asa
  • … see n.  16, below). Letters from Asa Gray , [ c . 24 May 1857] and 1 June 1857. Gray had …

To Asa Gray   9 May [1857]

Summary

Thanks for new part of "Statistics".

Interested in disjoined species; do they tend to belong to large or small genera, and are they generally members of small families?

Is glad AG will tackle introduced plants; has noticed that the proportion of a particular family to the whole flora tends to be similar in introduced and indigenous plants.

Author:  Charles Robert Darwin
Addressee:  Asa Gray
Date:  9 May [1857]
Classmark:  Archives of the Gray Herbarium, Harvard University (9)
Letter no:  DCP-LETT-2089

Matches: 7 hits

  • … To Asa Gray   9 May [1857] …
  • … of the Gray Herbarium, Harvard University (9) Charles Robert Darwin Down 9 May [1857] Asa
  • … this paper. See letter from Asa Gray, 1 June 1857 . A.  Gray 1848 . These notes are in DAR …
  • … in his note (see letter from Asa Gray, 1 June 1857 ). CD explained why he expected species …
  • … to be found in small genera in letter to Asa Gray, 18 June [1857] . A.  Gray 1856–7 , …
  • … letter from Asa Gray, 1 June 1857 . In the event, Gray was not able …
  • … p.  400. See letter to Asa Gray, [after 15 March 1857] , and …

To Asa Gray   [after 15 March 1857]

Summary

Urges AG to generalise from his observations on the flora of the northern U. S.

Expected to find separation of sexes in trees because he believes all living beings require an occasional cross, and none is perpetually self-fertilising. The multitude of flowers of a tree would be an obstacle to cross-fertilisation unless the sexes tended to be separate.

The Leguminosae are CD’s greatest opposers; he cannot find that garden varieties ever cross. Could AG inquire of intelligent nurserymen on the subject?

Thanks AG for information on protean genera; much wants to know whether their great variability is due to their conditions of existence or is innate in them at all times and places.

Author:  Charles Robert Darwin
Addressee:  Asa Gray
Date:  [after 15 Mar 1857]
Classmark:  Archives of the Gray Herbarium, Harvard University (8)
Letter no:  DCP-LETT-2060

Matches: 7 hits

  • … To Asa Gray   [after 15 March 1857] …
  • … from H.  C. Watson, 10 March 1857 . Letter from H.  C. Watson to Asa Gray, 13 March 1857 . …
  • … See letter from Asa Gray , [ c. 24 May 1857]. …
  • … 1857 , and from H.  C. Watson to Asa Gray , 13 March 1857). The letter from Watson to Gray …
  • … 15 March [1857] . Letter from Asa Gray, 16 February 1857 . A.  Gray 1856–7  was published …
  • … related in the letter to Asa Gray, 1 January [1857] . See letters to George Bentham , 26  …
  • Gray Herbarium, Harvard University (8) Charles Robert Darwin Down [after 15 Mar 1857] Asa

From Asa Gray   [c. 24 May 1857]

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Discusses difficulties involved in deciding which genera are protean in the light of some comments by H. C. Watson.

Author:  Asa Gray
Addressee:  Charles Robert Darwin
Date:  [c. 24 May 1857]
Classmark:  DAR 165: 97
Letter no:  DCP-LETT-2104

Matches: 6 hits

  • … From Asa Gray   [ c. 24 May 1857] …
  • … A.  Gray 1856–7 (see letter to Asa Gray, 9 May [1857] ). CD refers to the chapter of his …
  • … DAR 165: 97 Asa Gray unstated [c. 24 May 1857] Charles Robert Darwin …
  • … Gray’s reference in letter from Asa Gray, 1 June 1857 , to having ‘ despatched ’ a letter …
  • … list of protean genera ( letter from Asa Gray, 16 February 1857 ); he had also sent Hewett …
  • … 1857  and from H.  C. Watson to Asa Gray , 13 March 1857). See letter from H.  C. Watson, …

To Asa Gray   5 September [1857]

Summary

Encloses an abstract of his ideas on natural selection and the principle of divergence; the "means by which nature makes her species".

Discusses varieties and close species in large and small genera, finding some data from AG in conflict with his expectations.

Has been observing the action of bees in fertilising kidney beans and Lobelia.

Author:  Charles Robert Darwin
Addressee:  Asa Gray
Date:  5 Sept [1857]
Classmark:  Archives of the Gray Herbarium, Harvard University (48)
Letter no:  DCP-LETT-2136

Matches: 9 hits

  • … To Asa Gray   5 September [1857] …
  • … Letter from Asa Gray, [August 1857] . In his chapter on the possibility of all organic …
  • … the relationship to the letter to Asa Gray, 20 July [1857] , and by the reference to CD’s …
  • … kidney beans (see n.  12, below). See letter to Asa Gray, 20 July [1857] . Hugh Falconer . …
  • … the Gray Herbarium, Harvard University (48) Charles Robert Darwin Down 5 Sept [1857] Asa
  • … See letter from Asa Gray, [August 1857] . CD was able to obtain the seeds from Kew (see …
  • … the smaller genera. See letter to Asa Gray, 20 July [1857] . A note in DAR 49: 48 headed ‘ …
  • … October [1857]. See letter from Asa Gray, 7 July 1857 . A.  Gray 1857a . Gray had already …
  • … discussed introduced plants (see letters to Asa Gray , 9 May [1857] and 18 June [1857] ). …

To Asa Gray   29 November [1857]

Summary

Thanks AG for his criticisms of CD’s views; finds it difficult to avoid using the term "natural selection" as an agent.

Discusses crossing in Fumaria and barnacles.

Has received a naturally crossed kidney bean in which the seed-coat has been affected by the pollen of the fertilising plant.

Finds the rule of large genera having most varieties holds good and regards it as most important for his "principle of divergence".

Author:  Charles Robert Darwin
Addressee:  Asa Gray
Date:  29 Nov [1857]
Classmark:  Archives of the Gray Herbarium, Harvard University (18)
Letter no:  DCP-LETT-2176

Matches: 8 hits

  • … To Asa Gray   29 November [1857] …
  • … selection , p.  200. See letter from Asa Gray, [August 1857] . Lecoq 1845 , p.  61. See …
  • … relationship to the letter to Asa Gray, 5 September [1857] . Gray’s letter has not been …
  • … as put forward in letter to Asa Gray, 5 September [1857] . CD included a definition of …
  • … the Gray Herbarium, Harvard University (18) Charles Robert Darwin Down 29 Nov [1857] Asa
  • … by bees. See also letter to Asa Gray, 20 July [1857] , in which CD gives other examples to …
  • 1857 at which both were present (Royal Society Philosophical Club minutes). Gray had already provided CD with a list of ‘close species’ (see Correspondence vol.  5, letter to Asa
  • Asa Gray, 30 June 1855 ). The manuscript list is in DAR 165: 92/3. Ledebour 1842–53 . See Natural selection , pp.  148–54. See letters from H.  C. Watson, 14 December [1857] …

To Asa Gray   20 July [1857]

Summary

Believes species have arisen, like domestic varieties, with much extinction, and that there are no such things as independently created species. Explains why he believes species of the same genus generally have a common or continuous area; they are actual lineal descendants.

Discusses fertilisation in the bud and the insect pollination of papilionaceous flowers. His theory explains why, despite the risk of injury, cross-fertilisation is usual in the animal and vegetable kingdoms, even in hermaphrodites.

Author:  Charles Robert Darwin
Addressee:  Asa Gray
Date:  20 July [1857]
Classmark:  Archives of the Gray Herbarium, Harvard University (9b)
Letter no:  DCP-LETT-2125

Matches: 4 hits

  • … To Asa Gray   20 July [1857] …
  • … bud did occur, it was never normal and regular (see letter to Asa Gray, 18 June [1857] ). …
  • … in the letter. See letter from Asa Gray, 7 July 1857 . CD had asked Joseph Dalton Hooker …
  • … the Gray Herbarium, Harvard University (9b) Charles Robert Darwin Down 20 July [1857] Asa

From Asa Gray   16 February 1857

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Discusses the ranges of alpine species in U. S. and considers the possible migration routes of such species from Europe.

Lists those U. S. genera which he considers protean and describes the U. S. character of some genera which are protean in Europe.

Describes how he distinguishes introduced and aboriginal stocks of the same species.

Author:  Asa Gray
Addressee:  Charles Robert Darwin
Date:  16 Feb 1857
Classmark:  DAR 165: 96
Letter no:  DCP-LETT-2053

Matches: 5 hits

  • … From Asa Gray   16 February 1857
  • … DAR 165: 96 Asa Gray Cambridge, Mass. 16 Feb 1857 Charles Robert Darwin …
  • … creation. ’ ( A.  Gray 1859 , pp.  444–5). See letter to Asa Gray, 1 January [1857] . …
  • … See letter to Asa Gray, 1 January [1857] and n.  6. See letters to J.   …
  • … December [1856] . See letter to Asa Gray, 1 January [1857] . Gray’s underscoring has been …

To Asa Gray   1 January [1857]

Summary

Thanks AG for 2d part of "Statistics [of the flora of the northern U. S.", Am. J. Sci. 2d ser. 22 (1856): 204–32; 2d ser. 23 (1857): 62–84, 369–403].

Is glad AG concludes species of large genera are wide-ranging, but is "riled" that he thinks the line of connection of alpine plants is through Greenland. Mentions comparisons of ranges worth investigating.

Believes trees show a tendency toward separation of the sexes and wonders if U. S. species bear this out. Asks which genera are protean in U. S.

Author:  Charles Robert Darwin
Addressee:  Asa Gray
Date:  1 Jan [1857]
Classmark:  Archives of the Gray Herbarium, Harvard University (7)
Letter no:  DCP-LETT-2034

Matches: 5 hits

  • … To Asa Gray   1 January [1857] …
  • … the relationship to the letter from Asa Gray, 16 February 1857 . A.  Gray 1856–7 . In his …
  • … of the Gray Herbarium, Harvard University (7) Charles Robert Darwin Down 1 Jan [1857] Asa
  • … to this query, see letter from Asa Gray, 1 June 1857 . See letters to J.  D. Hooker, 1  …
  • … 42). See also letter from Asa Gray, 16 February 1857 . CD refers to the section entitled ‘ …

From H. C. Watson   10 March 1857

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HCW is trying to define what CD means by "variable" genera.

Author:  Hewett Cottrell Watson
Addressee:  Charles Robert Darwin
Date:  10 Mar 1857
Classmark:  DAR 181: 35
Letter no:  DCP-LETT-2063

Matches: 2 hits

  • … included in the letter from Asa Gray, 16 February 1857 . CD discussed protean genera in …
  • … CD forwarded Watson’s letter to Asa Gray . See letter to Asa Gray, [after 15 March 1857] . …

From Asa Gray   21 June 1858

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Summary

Self-fertilisation in Fumariaceae.

[CD note on bees’ visiting some members of Fumariaceae.]

Author:  Asa Gray
Addressee:  Charles Robert Darwin
Date:  21 June 1858
Classmark:  DAR 76: B15
Letter no:  DCP-LETT-2288

Matches: 2 hits

  • … cross-fertilise (see Correspondence vol.  6, letter from Asa Gray, 7 July 1857 , and …
  • … letter to Asa Gray, 29 November [1857] ). CD investigated the subject experimentally in …

To Asa Gray   18 November [1858]

Summary

Wishes to know whether differences in constitution (such as disease susceptibility) are related to differences in complexion. "Liability to such a disease as yellow fever would answer my question in the best possible way."

Author:  Charles Robert Darwin
Addressee:  Asa Gray
Date:  18 Nov [1858]
Classmark:  Gray Herbarium of Harvard University (19)
Letter no:  DCP-LETT-2364

Matches: 2 hits

  • … in the Fumariaceae. See Correspondence vol.  6, letter from Asa Gray, 7 July 1857 , and …
  • … letters to Asa Gray , 20 July [1857] and 29 November [1857] . See also letter from Asa …

To Daniel Oliver   12 [April 1862]

Summary

DO’s observations on polymorphism in Primula and Campanula. CD recognises three classes of dimorphism, as in Primula, Thymus, and Campanula and violets.

DO’s Campanula paper and Royal Institution lecture [Not. Proc. R. Inst. G. B. 3 (1858–62): 431–3].

CD’s interest in Fumariaceae from A. Gray’s comments on "selfing".

Bees bite holes in flowers when same species grows in high density.

Organisation of CD’s notes.

Author:  Charles Robert Darwin
Addressee:  Daniel Oliver
Date:  12 [Apr 1862]
Classmark:  DAR 261.10: 1 (EH 88205985)
Letter no:  DCP-LETT-3504

Matches: 3 hits

  • … refers to his correspondence with Asa Gray during 1857 and 1858 (see Correspondence vol.   …
  • … 6, letter from Asa Gray, 7 July 1857 , and …
  • … letter to Asa Gray, 29 November [1857] , and Correspondence vol.  7, letter from Asa Gray, …

To J. D. Hooker   15 March [1857]

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Summary

Separation of sexes in trees [U. S.].

Do plants offer positive evidence for "continuous land" theory?

Protean genera.

Author:  Charles Robert Darwin
Addressee:  Joseph Dalton Hooker
Date:  15 Mar [1857]
Classmark:  DAR 114: 193
Letter no:  DCP-LETT-2066

Matches: 3 hits

  • … about protean genera (see n.  3, below). Letter from Asa Gray, 16 February 1857 . CD …
  • … and letter from H.  C. Watson to Asa Gray, 13 March 1857 . See letter from J.  D. Hooker, …
  • Asa Gray’s letter, which contained a list Gray had prepared of protean genera. See letter from H.  C. Watson, 10 March 1857   …

From Asa Gray   24 July 1865

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Summary

Is reading CD’s "Climbing plants".

The Civil War is ended; slavery is dead.

Author:  Asa Gray
Addressee:  Charles Robert Darwin
Date:  24 July 1865
Classmark:  DAR 165: 148
Letter no:  DCP-LETT-4877

Matches: 3 hits

  • … by insects. See Correspondence vol.  6, letter from Asa Gray, [August 1857] , and …
  • … letter to Asa Gray, 29 November [1857] . CD’s observations on A.  cirrhosa as a leaf- …
  • Asa Gray, 19 April [1865] and n.  16). Gray refers to ‘Climbing plants’ , pp.  95–8. Gray had sent CD specimens and seed of Adlumia cirrhosa in 1857. …

To J. D. Hooker   [after 20 January 1857]

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Summary

CD finds Alphonse de Candolle very useful, though JDH has low opinion.

CD argues for accidental introductions explaining some odd distributions, e.g., New Zealand vs Australian plants.

CD’s method.

Diverging affinities in isolated genera.

Author:  Charles Robert Darwin
Addressee:  Joseph Dalton Hooker
Date:  [after 20 Jan 1857]
Classmark:  DAR 114: 190
Letter no:  DCP-LETT-2033

Matches: 2 hits

  • … A.  Gray 1856–7 . See letter to Asa Gray, 1 January [1857] . See letter to J.  D. Hooker, …
  • … 1857] and 20 January [1857] . CD refers to a letter from Asa Gray addressed to both …
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