Darwin celebrated at the arrival of Góa
Góa, the second last winter month of the old Norse calendar, began on the 23rd of February and marks the time of change when winter recedes into spring.
Another significant date in February is the 12th, the birthdate of Charles Darwin. Góa is a time of transition; Darwin's work on evolution suggested that subtle changes accumulate over time to produce transitions in species that lead to the diversity of life we see today.
Oxlip (Primula elatior) shoots early while the weather changes from winter to spring. Darwin researched variation in primula while writing his evolution theory.
Darwin is best known for his work On the Origin of Species and On the Descent of Man, but he also made significant contributions in the field of botany. He was fascinated by plants early in his life and made herbarium collections for JS Henslow, his botany teacher at the University of Cambridge. It is thought that the ideas of Henslow, who was interested in diversity within species, had a great influence on Darwin's ideas on evolution.
Darwin made over 200 plant collections during his visit to the Galapagos, including this maidenhair fern (Adiantum henslovianum).
Darwin published several books of note on botany. He was interested in plant movement and how they respond to stimuli like light and gravity and also how they can derive nutrients from other sources such as insects.
Darwin explored how plants like ivy (Hedrea helix) use tendrils to climb to walls.
Darwin also wrote about pollination, particularly in orchids. In 1862 he received a specimen of the orchid Angraecum sesquipedale, now known as Darwin's orchid, in the mail from Madagascar. Whilst examining the very long pollen tube, he famously remarked, "Good heavens, what insect can suck it?". Using his evolution theory, Darwin predicted that the pollinator was a moth with a very long proboscis, which proved to be the case when the sphinx moth (Xanthopan morganii) was discovered in 1903, after his death.
Darwin's orchid and the sphinx moth he predicted would pollinate it.
Darwin’s botanical work highlighted the adaptability and complexity of plants, reinforcing his theories of evolution. Just as Góa signals the end of winter, Darwin's teachings ended an era in the way plant species were defined and the way that botany was taught thereon.