Chap. II. HYBRID PRIMULAS. 55 



CHAPTER II 



Hybrid Primulas. 



The Oxlip a hybrid naturally produced between Primula veris and 

 vulgaris — The differences in structure and function between the 

 two parent-species — Effects of crossing long-styled and short-styled 

 Oxlips with one another and with the two forms of both parent- 

 species; — Character of the offspring from Oxlips artificially self-fer- 

 tilised and cross-fertilised in a state of nature — Primula elatior 

 shown to be a distinct species — Hybrids between other heterostyled 

 species of Primula — Supplementary note on spontaneously produced 

 hybrids in the genus Verbascum. 



The various species of Primula have produced in a 

 state of nature throughout Europe an extraordinary 

 number of hybrid forms. For instance, Professor 

 Kerner has found no less than twenty-five such forms 

 in the Alps.* The frequent occurrence of hybrids in 

 this genus no doubt has been favoured by most of the 

 species being heterostyled, and consequently requiring 

 cross-fertilisation by insects; yet in some other genera, 

 species which are not heterostyled and which in some 



■ 



respects appear not well adapted for hybrid-ferti- 

 lisation, have likewise been largely hybridised. In 

 certain districts of England, the common oxlip — a 

 hybrid between the cowslip (P. verts, vel officinalis) and 

 the primrose (P. vulgaris, vel acaulis) — is frequently 

 found, and it occurs occasionally almost everywhere. 



* Die Primulaceen-Bastarten, " 'Bull. Soc. Bot.de France/ torn. 



Oesterr. Bot. Zeitschrift,' Jahr x., 1853, p. 178. Also in ' Revue 



1875, Nos. 3, 4, and 5. See also des Sciences Nat. , ' 1875, p. 331. 

 Godron on hybrid Primulas in 





