The results of experiments on plants which showed evolutionary adaptation in their highly specialised methods of obtaining nutrients.

Autorentext

Charles Robert Darwin (1809-1882) was born in Shropshire, England. His first text chronicling his five-year voyage on the HMS Beagle, which included his notable visit to the Galapagos Islands, earned him success as an author in 1839. His observations from the Galapagos, alongside an interest in natural history from an early age and studies over the consequent years, informed the development of his biological theories, culminating the ground-breaking text 'On the Origin of Species' for which he is best known.

Zusammenfassung
Darwin had long been fascinated by insectivorous plants, from the native British sundews and bladderworts to the exotic pinguiculas and nepenthes which he encountered during the Beagle voyage. This books shows the results of his experiments on plants which showed evolutionary adaptation in their highly specialised methods of obtaining nutrients.

Inhalt

1. Drosera rotundifolia, or the common sun-dew; 2. The movements of the tentacles from the contact of solid bodies; 3. Aggregation of the protoplasm within the cells of the tentacles; 4. The effects of heat on the leaves; 5. The effects of non-nitrogenous and nitrogenous organic fluids on the leaves; 6. The digestive power of the secretion of Drosera; 7. The effects of salts of ammonia; 8. The effects of various other salts, and acids, on the leaves; 9. The effects of certain alkaloid poisons, other substances and vapours; 10. On the sensitiveness of the leaves, and on the lines of transmission of the motor impulse; 11. Recapitulation of the chief observations on Drosera rotundifolia; 12. On the structure and movements of some other species of Drosera; 13. Dionaea muscipula; 14. Aldrovanda vesiculosa; 15. Drosophyllum, Roridula, Byblis, glandular hairs of other plants, concluding remarks on the Droseraceae; 16. Pinguicula; 17. Utricularia; 18. Utricularia (continued); Index.