CAPE ORCHIDS. OXALIS, ETC.: 1864 229 



has described in an American Habenaria a nearly similar 

 contrivance with respect to the nectary as yours. I have 

 sent your paper to Linn. Soc. and I hope it may be 

 printed, but that of course I cannot say and IT may 

 be influenced by cost of engraving. 1 



With respect to the Satyrium I sh d think that the 

 pollen masses which you sent had been scraped off 

 the head of some insect BY THE INSECT ITSELF ; I do not 

 refer to the additional pollen-masses which you saw 

 growing in their cases. 



Most of the Oxalis which you so kindly sent me 

 flowerED, but all with 2 exceptions presented one form 

 alone. From what I know about Primula, I sh d be 

 astonished at the same bulb ever producing 2 forms. 

 In the 2 exceptional cases, one bulb in each lot produced 

 a distinct form ; but I have very little doubt there ought 

 to be 3 forms. I got some seed from one of the unions 

 and have some feeble hopes that they may germinate. 



If I have strength (for I keep weak) I sh d like to 

 make out Oxalis, so if you have any opportunity I should 

 still be very glad of seed. 



Many thanks about Strelitzia. 2 Would it be possible 

 to get a plant of the kind that seeds, protected from the 

 sugar-birds, with another plant unprotected near by 1 



I am tired, and so will write no more. 



With many thanks pray believe me 



Yours very sincerely 



CH. DARWIN 



1 The paper was published in 1865. It is entitled : On the 

 Structure of Bonatea speciosa, Linn., with reference to its Fertilisation. 

 By Roland Trimen, Memb. Ent. Soc. Lond. Journ. Linn. Soc. 

 Bot.,\i (1865), 156. Darwin mentions this paper in his Notes on 

 the Fertilisation of Orchids in Ann. and Mag. N.H. for September 

 (1869), 8, 17; as also in Fertilisation of Orchids (1877), 76, 77. 



1 See p. 228. 



