My dear Hooker

Could you spare me another spike of Apothecia & send it in tin box, or in oilsilk in wooden box¹   I sh^d. wish one in very early bud, but one in full flower would be better than none?— Veitch has sent me a lot of magnificent Cattleyas all in full bloom;² & as in some respects the pollinia are little modified, so the rostellum & means of fertilisation are simpler than in any other Orchid. In fact these flowers lead me to look at the rostellum as (in this the simplest case) part of the stigma very little modified & not distinct from the true stigma.—³ I want to see how the tissues are in the bud.—

The stigma secretes in Cattlya an enormous amount of viscid matter; I have said secrete, but it seems to me rather that the whole surface of the stigma deeply resolves itself into viscid matter; & this is all that the rostellum or upper part of the stigma does; & this viscid matter is forced by insects into the mouth of the anther & so withdraws the pollinia.—⁴ I certainly sh^d. very much like to see rostellum of Apothecia in early bud.

When I get home on Aug^st 28^th. could you lend me Lindleys great work on Orchids to which he refers in Veg. Kingdom, as explaining nature of Parts;⁵ to my sorrow I fear I ought not to publish, without seeing what is known: I much fear that it is a very precious Book.—

Ever yours | C. Darwin