# Asa Gray — The Origin of Species character guide

> Asa Gray in The Origin of Species by Charles Darwin.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Asa Gray, Dr. Asa, Dr. Asa Gray, Dr. Gray, Professor Asa Gray

**First appearance:** 0004-i-variation-under-domestication

## Snapshot

America's foremost botanist and one of Darwin's earliest champions, lending the dangerous new theory scientific weight on the far side of the Atlantic.

## Who they are

Gray belongs to the small circle of authorities Darwin cites to show that the idea of species as permanent, separately created kinds was already crumbling before his book appeared. Darwin gathers precursors like Wells, Herbert, and Grant, each glimpsing part of the truth, and Gray's botanical standing helps legitimize the pattern they all missed. His presence signals that this is not one man's speculation but a conclusion converging from many directions.

## Relationships

### [Charles Darwin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_origin_of_species_se/characters/charles_darwin)

_friendship_

Asa Gray was a close American friend and early defender of Darwin's theory, engaging in warm and supportive correspondence.

## In the story

### [Doubtful Species](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_origin_of_species_se/chapters/doubtful-species)

Quoted commenting on De Candolle's oak memoir, noting that characters used in specific definitions often vary on the same tree.

### [Natural Selection; or the Survival of the Fittest](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_origin_of_species_se/chapters/iv-natural-selection-or-the-survival-of-the-fittest)

Cited alongside Hooker for the same remark on variability under domestication.

### [Illustrations of the Action of Natural Selection, or the Survival of the Fittest](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_origin_of_species_se/chapters/illustrations-of-the-action-of-natural-selection-or-the-survival-of-the-fittest)

Cited regarding intermediate dioecious conditions in North American holly species.

### [Divergence of Character](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_origin_of_species_se/chapters/divergence-of-character)

Darwin cites Dr. Asa Gray's Manual of the Flora of the Northern United States to provide data on naturalised plants and their diverse genera.

### [Distinct Species Present Analogous Variations, So That a Variety of One Species Often Assumes a Character Proper to an Allied Species, or Reverts to Some of the Characters of an Early Progenitor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_origin_of_species_se/chapters/distinct-species-present-analogous-variations-so-that-a-variety-of-one-species-often-assumes-a-character-proper-to-an-allied-species-or-reverts-to-some-of-the-characters-of-an-early-progenitor)

Figured a quagga specimen with zebra-like bars on the hocks.

### [On the Absence or Rarity of Transitional Varieties](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_origin_of_species_se/chapters/on-the-absence-or-rarity-of-transitional-varieties)

Provided information on the rarity of intermediate varieties.

### [Geographical Distribution](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_origin_of_species_se/chapters/xii-geographical-distribution)

Mentioned as having shown that more plants are identical between the New and Old Worlds than was formerly supposed.

### [Dispersal During the Glacial Period](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_origin_of_species_se/chapters/dispersal-during-the-glacial-period)

Showed that more plants are identical between Europe and America than formerly supposed; also noted plants on White Mountains are same as those of Labrador and Europe.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_origin_of_species_se/characters/asa_gray
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_origin_of_species_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_origin_of_species_se/characters