Publisher's Synopsis
The Various Contrivances by Which Orchids are Fertilized by Insects is a scientific book written by Charles Darwin, the famous naturalist and evolutionary theorist. The book explores the complex and fascinating relationship between orchids and insects, specifically how orchids have evolved to attract and manipulate insects for pollination. Darwin's book is divided into two parts. The first part describes the various mechanisms that orchids use to ensure that insects carry their pollen from one flower to another, including unique shapes, colors, and scents. Darwin also discusses the different types of insects that are attracted to orchids and how they are manipulated into pollinating the flowers.The second part of the book focuses on specific examples of orchids and their insect pollinators, including detailed observations and experiments conducted by Darwin himself. He provides evidence for his theory of natural selection and how it applies to the coevolution of orchids and insects.Overall, The Various Contrivances by Which Orchids are Fertilized by Insects is a groundbreaking work in the field of botany and evolutionary biology. It provides a detailed account of the intricate relationships between flowers and their pollinators and highlights the importance of understanding the complex interplay between different species in the natural world.1885. With illustrations. A volume by Darwin the British naturalist who became famous for his theories of evolution and natural selection. In 1861, Darwin took a break from writing his book on animal domestication and went on holiday with his daughter, Henrietta, to Torquay on the Devon coast. While there he spent many an hour examining the way insects pollinate orchids in the fields around the town. He noticed that only certain insects pollinate one particular orchid variety. When he returned to Down House he immediately switched from breeding pigeons to raising orchids. During the Victorian era, orchids were all the rage, and as soon as word got out that Darwin was raising them he found himself being flooded with specimens from all over the country. What he set out to do was study how orchids used intricate petal designs to attract bees and moths to their pollen. How did such a relationship evolve? The subject fascinated him and the results are to be found in this work.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.
