The Different Forms of Flowers on Plants of the Same SpeciesDarwin, Charles
Science
The Different Forms of Flowers on Plants of the Same Species
Darwin, Charles
Fertilization of plants; Heterostylism; Plant physiology; Plants -- Variation; Pollination
TABLE 8.38. List of genera including cleistogamic species (chiefly after Kuhn).
(8/3. I have omitted Trifolium and Arachis from the list, because Von Mohl says
‘Botanische Zeitung’ 1863 page 312, that the flower-stems merely draw the
flowers beneath the ground, and that these do not appear to be properly
cleistogamic. Correa de Mello ‘Journal of the Linnean Society Botany’ volume 11
1870 page 254, observed plants of Arachis in Brazil, and could never find such
flowers. Plantago has been omitted because as far as I can discover it produces
hermaphrodite and female flower-heads, but not cleistogamic flowers.
Krascheninikowia (vel Stellaria) has been omitted because it seems very doubtful
from Maximowicz’ description whether the lower flowers which have no petals or
very small ones, and barren stamens or none, are cleistogamic; the upper
hermaphrodite flowers are said never to produce fruit, and therefore probably
act as males. Moreover in Stellaria graminea, as Babington remarks ‘British
Botany’ 1851 page 51, “shorter and longer petals accompany an imperfection of
the stamens or germen.”
I have added to the list the following cases:
Several Acanthaceae, for which see J. Scott in ‘Journal of Botany’ London new
series volume 1 1872 page 161.
With respect to salvia see Dr. Ascherson in ‘Botanische Zeitung’ 1871 page 555.
For Oxybaphus and Nyctaginia see Asa Gray in ‘American Naturalist’ November 1873
page 692.
From Dr. Torrey’s account of Hottonia inflata ‘Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical
Club’ volume 2 June 1871, it is manifest that this plant produces true
cleistogamic flowers.
For Pavonia see Bouche in ‘Sitzungsberichte d. Gesellsch. Natur. Freunde’
October 20, 1874 page 90.
I have added Thelymitra, as from the account given by Mr. Fitzgerald in his
magnificent work on ‘Australian Orchids’ it appears that the flowers of this
plant in its native home never open, but they do not appear to be reduced in
size. Nor is this the case with the flowers of certain species of Epidendron,
Cattleya, etc. see second edition of my ‘Fertilisation of Orchids’ page 147,
which without expanding produce capsules. It is therefore doubtful whether these
Orchideae ought to have been included in the list. From what Duval-Jouve says
about Cryptostachys in ‘Bulletin of the Soc. Bot. de France’ tome 10 1863 page
195, this plant appears to produce cleistogamic flowers.
the other additions to the list are noticed in my text.)
DICOTYLEDONS.
BORAGINEAE:
Eritrichium.
CONVOLVULACEAE:
Cuscuta.
SCROPHULARINEAE:
Scrophularia.
Linaria.
Vandellia.
ACANTHACEAE:
Cryphiacanthus.
Eranthemum.
Daedalacanthus.
Dipteracanthus.
Aechmanthera.
Ruellia.
LABIATAE:
Lamium.
Salvia.
NYCTAGINEAE:
Oxybaphus.
Nyctaginia.
ASCLEPIADAE:
Stapelia.
CAMPANULACEAE:
Specularia.
Campanula.
PRIMULACEAE:
Hottonia.
COMPOSITAE:
Anandria.
CRUCIFERAE:
Heterocarpaea.
VIOLACEAE:
Viola.
CISTINEAE:
Helianthemum.
Lechea.
MALVEACEAE:
Pavonia.
MALPIGHIACEAE:
Gaudichaudia.
Aspicarpa.
Camarea.
Janusia.
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