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
Pot 1 : 40 4/8 : 33.
Pot 1 : 35 : 24.
Pot 1 : 25 : 23.
Pot 2 : 33 4/8 : 30 4/8.
Total : 134.0 : 110.5.
The average height of the four crossed plants is 33.5, and that of the
four self-fertilised plants 27.62 inches, or as 100 to 82. The crossed
plants altogether produced 105 and the self-fertilised plants 63
capsules; or as 100 to 60. In both pots a self-fertilised plant flowered
before any one of the crossed plants.
16. LOASACEAE.--Bartonia aurea.
Some flowers were crossed and self-fertilised in the usual manner during
two seasons; but as I reared on the first occasion only two pairs, the
results are given together. On both occasions the crossed capsules
contained slightly more seeds than the self-fertilised. During the first
year, when the plants were about 7 inches in height, the self-fertilised
were the tallest, and in the second year the crossed were the tallest.
When the two lots were in full flower they were measured, as in Table
5/63.
TABLE 5/63. Bartonia aurea.
Heights of plants measured in inches.
Column 1: Number (Name) of Pot.
Column 2: Crossed Plants.
Column 3: Self-fertilised Plants.
Pot 1 : 31 : 37.
Pot 2 : 18 4/8 : 20 4/8.
Pot 3 : 19 4/8 : 40 4/8.
Pot 4 : 25 : 35.
Pot 4 : 36 : 15 4/8.
Pot 5 : 31 : 18.
Pot 5 : 16 : 11 4/8.
Pot 6 : 20 : 32 4/8.
Total : 197.0 : 210.5.
The average height of the eight crossed plants is 24.62, and that of the
eight self-fertilised 26.31 inches; or as 100 to 107. So that the
self-fertilised had a decided advantage over the crossed. But the plants
from some cause never grew well, and finally became so unhealthy that
only three crossed and three self-fertilised plants survived to set any
capsules, and these were few in number. The two lots seemed to be about
equally unproductive.
17. PASSIFLORACEAE.--Passiflora gracilis.
This annual species produces spontaneously numerous fruits when insects
are excluded, and behaves in this respect very differently from most of
the other species in the genus, which are extremely sterile unless
fertilised with pollen from a distinct plant. (5/17. ‘Variation of
Animals and Plants under Domestication’ chapter 17 2nd edition volume 2
page 118.) Fourteen fruits from crossed flowers contained on an average
24.14 seeds. Fourteen fruits (two poor ones being rejected),
spontaneously self-fertilised under a net, contained on an average 20.58
seeds per fruit; or as 100 to 85. These seeds were sown on the opposite
sides of three pots, but only two pairs came up at the same time; and
therefore a fair judgment cannot be formed.
TABLE 5/64. Passiflora gracilis.
Heights of plants measured in inches.
Column 1: Number (Name) of Pot.
Column 2: Crossed Plants.
Column 3: Self-fertilised Plants.
Pot 1 : 56 : 38.
Pot 2 : 42 : 64.
Total : 98 : 102.
The mean of the two crossed is 49 inches, and that of the two
self-fertilised 51 inches; or as 100 to 104.
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