The Effects of Cross & Self-Fertilisation in the Vegetable KingdomDarwin, Charles
Science
The Effects of Cross & Self-Fertilisation in the Vegetable Kingdom
Darwin, Charles
Fertilization of plants; Plants -- Variation; Pollination
Several flowers were crossed and self-fertilised in the usual manner,
but there was no marked difference in the number of seeds which they
yielded. A vast number of spontaneously self-fertilised capsules were
also produced under the net. Seedlings were raised in five pots from the
above seeds, and when the crossed were about 3 inches in height they
showed a slight advantage over the self-fertilised. When double this
height, the sixteen crossed and sixteen self-fertilised plants were
measured to the tips of their leaves; the former averaged 7.3 inches,
and the self-fertilised 6.07 inches in height, or as 100 to 83. In all
the pots, excepting 4, a crossed plant flowered before any one of the
self-fertilised plants. The plants, when fully grown, were again
measured to the summits of their ripe capsules, with the result in Table
5/51.
TABLE 5/51. Limnanthes douglasii.
Heights of plants to the summits of their ripe capsules, measured in inches.
Column 1: Number (Name) of Pot.
Column 2: Crossed Plants.
Column 3: Self-fertilised Plants.
Pot 1 : 17 7/8 : 15 1/8.
Pot 1 : 17 6/8 : 16 4/8.
Pot 1 : 13 : 11.
Pot 2 : 20 : 14 4/8.
Pot 2 : 22 : 15 6/8.
Pot 2 : 21 : 16 1/8.
Pot 2 : 18 4/8 : 17.
Pot 3 : 15 6/8 : 11 4/8.
Pot 3 : 17 2/8 : 10 4/8.
Pot 3 : 14 : 0.
Pot 4 : 20 4/8 : 13 4/8.
Pot 4 : 14 : 13.
Pot 4 : 18 : 12 2/8.
Pot 5 : 17 : 14 2/8.
Pot 5 : 18 5/8 : 14 1/8.
Pot 5 : 14 2/8 : 12 5/8.
Total : 279.50 : 207.75.
The sixteen crossed plants now averaged 17.46, and the fifteen (for one
had died) self-fertilised plants 13.85 inches in height, or as 100 to
79. Mr. Galton considers that a higher ratio would be fairer, namely,
100 to 76. He made a graphical representation of the above measurements,
and adds the words “very good” to the curvature thus formed. Both lots
of plants produced an abundance of seed-capsules, and, as far as could
be judged by the eye, there was no difference in their fertility.]
14. LEGUMINOSAE.
In this family I experimented on the following six genera, Lupinus,
Phaseolus, Lathyrus, Pisum, Sarothamnus, and Ononis.
[Lupinus luteus. (5/2. The structure of the flowers of this plant, and
their manner of fertilisation, have been described by H. Muller
‘Befruchtung’ etc. page 243. The flowers do not secrete free nectar, and
bees generally visit them for their pollen. Mr. Farrer, however, remarks
‘Nature’ 1872 page 499, that “there is a cavity at the back and base of
the vexillum, in which I have not been able to find nectar. But the
bees, which constantly visit these flowers, certainly go to this cavity
for what they want, and not to the staminal tube.”)
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account