# Mr. H. C. Watson — The Origin of Species character guide

> Mr. H. C. Watson in The Origin of Species by Charles Darwin.

**Role:** minor

**Also known as:** Mr. H. C. Watson, Mr. Watson

**First appearance:** 0012-ii-variation-under-nature

## Who they are

A botanist who studied plant distribution and variation.

## In the story

### [II: Variation Under Nature](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_origin_of_species_se/chapters/ii-variation-under-nature)

Provided data on British plants considered varieties by some botanists and species by others; assisted Darwin in tabulating varieties.

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

Provided Darwin with a list of 182 British plants considered varieties but ranked as species by some botanists.

### [Wide-Ranging, Much Diffused, and Common Species Vary Most](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_origin_of_species_se/chapters/wide-ranging-much-diffused-and-common-species-vary-most)

Provided valuable advice and assistance on tabulating varieties in floras.

### [Many of the Species Included Within the Larger Genera Resemble Varieties in Being Very Closely, but Unequally, Related to Each Other, and in Having Restricted Ranges](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_origin_of_species_se/chapters/many-of-the-species-included-within-the-larger-genera-resemble-varieties-in-being-very-closely-but-unequally-related-to-each-other-and-in-having-restricted-ranges)

Provided data on the ranges of doubtful species and acknowledged varieties from the London Catalogue of Plants.

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

Watson thinks Darwin overrated divergence of character and believes convergence has played a part.

### [Acclimatisation](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_origin_of_species_se/chapters/acclimatisation)

Observed acclimatisation in European plants brought from the Azores to England.

### [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.

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

Noted that alpine plants of Scotland are allied to those of northern Scandinavia.

## Links

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