Transcription: "My dear Mr Thwaites Can you give me any cases of what some gardeners call “Sports”, but what I shall call “bud-variations”, ie when a Show moreTranscription: "My dear Mr Thwaites Can you give me any cases of what some gardeners call “Sports”, but what I shall call “bud-variations”, ie when a leaf-bud assumes suddenly a new character—like moss-rose on Provence &c. I shd be very grateful for any authentic cases. Why I more particularly ask you, is that Sir R. Schomburghk says that at St Domingo, introduced flowers from the warmer temperate regions were there particularly apt to sport in this manner. I wrote some time ago to you about Cinchona being dimorphic like Primula; I have now better reason to believe that this is the case, & I have proof that some of these dimorphic plants are absolutely sterile with their own-form pollen. You mentioned two Ceylon genera (I have your note but names forgotten; one was allied to Menyanthes) Would you have kindness to examine them & see that both forms produce pollen & if you will, compare size of pollen. Or if you prefer could you send me the two forms of these genera in a letter, well dried, but not much pressed & named & then I could compare by soaking the pollen. The flowers shd not be old. I believe that you will forgive me for troubling you, & I remain, Yours very sincerely, Ch. Darwin I am hard at work at a book on “Variation under Domestication”. Endorsement: Endorsement: `1862′ " Letter sent from Down, Bromley, Kent, England. The Robert M. Stecher Collection of Charles Darwin Books and Manuscripts Show less
