Fertilisation of Orchids, written by Charles Darwin (pictured) and published on 15 May 1862, explores the evolutionary interactions between insects and the orchids they pollinate, which Darwin had mentioned in his previous book, On the Origin of Species. Field studies and practical scientific investigations that were initially a recreation for Darwin—a relief from the drudgery of writing—developed into enjoyable and challenging experiments assisted by his family, friends, and correspondents worldwide. The book was his first detailed demonstration of the power of natural selection, showing how the benefits of cross-fertilisation lead to complex ecological relationships and the coevolution of orchids and insects, with cumulative small variations resulting in beautiful and complex functional forms that natural theology had attributed to a grand designer. It explained the puzzle of Catasetum, which was thought to have different species of flowers on the same plant, and produced the testable prediction that the long nectary of Angraecum sesquipedale meant that there must be a moth with an equally long proboscis.

Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fertilisation_of_Orchids

_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

1777:

American Revolutionary War: British forces under the command of General Sir Henry Clinton captured Fort Clinton and Fort Montgomery, and then dismantled the Hudson River Chain. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Forts_Clinton_and_Montgomery

1910:

Eleftherios Venizelos was elected Prime Minister of Greece for the first of his seven non-consecutive terms. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eleftherios_Venizelos

1927:

The first successful feature sound film The Jazz Singer, starring Al Jolson, was released. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Jazz_Singer

2000:

Denouncing corruption in the administration of Argentine President Fernando de la Rúa and in the Senate, Vice President Carlos Álvarez resigned from his office. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carlos_%C3%81lvarez_(politician)

2002:

Al Qaeda bombed the oil tanker Limburg, causing 90,000 barrels (14,000 m3) of oil to leak into the Gulf of Aden. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maritime_Jewel

_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:

wizened: Withered; lean and wrinkled by shrinkage as from age or illness. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/wizened

___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:

Learn to control ego. Humans hold their dogmas and biases too tightly, and we only think that our opponents are dogmatic! But we all need criticism. Criticism is the only known antidote to error. --David Brin https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/David_Brin