On the various contrivances by which British and foreign orchids are fertilised by insects

About “On the various contrivances by which British and foreign orchids are fertilised by insects”

Fertilisation of Orchids is a book by English naturalist Charles Darwin, published on 15 May 1862. Its full title is On the Various Contrivances by Which British and Foreign Orchids Are Fertilised by Insects, and On the Good Effects of Intercrossing. Darwin had previously mentioned the evolutionary interactions between insects and plants in On the Origin of Species, and this book expands on that idea. Initially, his field studies and experiments were a form of recreation, a break from his writing. Over time, they became enjoyable and challenging scientific work. Darwin received support from his family, friends, and a network of correspondents. The book was written during a period when growing exotic orchids was popular. (Summary adapted from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.)