From John Scott 11 November 1862
Summary
CD is mistaken in considering Acropera unisexual, with only male flowers [Orchids, pp. 203–10]. JS has successfully fertilised two A. loddigesii flowers. One is ripening. Dissection of the other shows the pollen accomplishes fertilisation without contacting any stigmatic surface. Abortive ovules found in flowers that did not become fertilised when pollinated. JS suggests Acropera has both unisexual male and hermaphrodite flowers.
| Author: | John Scott |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | 11 Nov 1862 |
| Classmark: | DAR 177: 77 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-3800 |
From John Scott 15 November [1862]
Summary
Appreciates CD’s acknowledging his letter and his comments on Acropera. Will send CD the Acropera capsule which is now maturing.
Experimenting on vegetable parthenogenesis.
Structure of Acropera.
| Author: | John Scott |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | 15 Nov [1862] |
| Classmark: | DAR 177: 78 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-3808 |
From John Scott [20 November – 2 December 1862]
Summary
JS does not fully accept natural selection.
Has never raised oxlips from cowslips or primroses; reports of such must be cases of crossing.
Discusses relative fertility of varieties, self-fertility of hybrids, and plans for experiments on enhanced hybrid fertility.
| Author: | John Scott |
| Addressee: | Charles Robert Darwin |
| Date: | [20 Nov – 2 Dec 1862] |
| Classmark: | DAR 177: 79 |
| Letter no: | DCP-LETT-3815 |
