The theory of evolution is not restricted to the animal kingdom. After the publication of the “On the Origin of Species”, Darwin was actively involved in addressing functional anatomy and evolution in plants.
Darwin's theories have direct implications on our understanding of agriculture. Similar to the process of domestication in species such as pigs, chickens and pigeons, a domestication process has also occurred in agricultural plants such as maize, wheat and rice.
- Fertilisation of Orchids , Charles Darwin (1862)
- Climbing Plants, Charles Darwin (1865)
- Insectivorous Plants, Charles Darwin (1875)
- Cross and Self Fertilisation, Charles Darwin (1876)
- Different Forms of Flowers, Charles Darwin (1877)
- The power of Movement in Plants, Charles Darwin (1880)
Photo: Phalenopsis (Karin Niffeler, 2008).
Graphics are reproduced with permission from John van Wyhe ed., The complete Work of Charles Darwin Online.