Ua 
PRIMULA ELATIOR IN BRITAIN. 181 
Edward Newman*, Prof. Babingtont, Thomas Bentallf,and other 
English botanists of the day $. Thus, at last, the fact was 
recognized that the true Primula elatior of Jacquin and the 
Continental botanists oceurred in Britain, as well as the better- 
known (because more widely distributed) Common (Hybrid) 
Oxlip. 
Since that time, the distinction between the “ True" and the 
“Spurious” (Hybrid) Oxlips has been more or less clearly re- 
cognized; but, even now, there appear to be English botanists of 
high authority who are still unfamiliar with, or doubtful of, 
their distinctness; whilst the various interesting points in the 
natural history of the true species in Britain, to which I shall 
hereafter call attention, are practically unknown. In the last 
(fifth) edition (1887) of Beutham’s ‘Handbook of the British 
Flora,’ ed. Hooker (p. 290), it is stated that ^ the distinctness is . 
scarcely proved satisfactorily,’—a statement which could not 
possibly have been made had those authors been personally 
familiar with the two forms in question. 
It is no longer possible seriously to discuss the question 
whether P. elatior is a hybrid or not. The readiness with which 
t enters (as stated hereafter) into hybrid unions with the Prim- 
Tose shows, undoubtedly, that the two are nearly related ; but 
the Word "species" (though admittedly incapable of exact de- 
finition) has no meaning whatever if a plant which extends over 
à very large part of both Europe and Asia, which grows in 
immense abundance wherever it is found, and (except when 
exposed to the hybridizing influence of its near allies) pre- 
Serves its characteristic features unaltered—can be said to be 
shybrid. And p. elatior does all this. 
* ‘Phytologist,’ vol. i. pp. 204, 975, & 997. 
t Op. cit. vol. i. p. 1018. 
4 Op. cit. vol. ii, p. 515. 
§ On this accoun 
Bardfield Oxlip ;” 
Plant is in no resp 
the margin of the 
t, P. elatior, Jacq., is still commonly called in Britain “ the 
but this name is somewhat inappropriate, inasmuch as the 
ect peculiar to Bardfield, which place lies, indeed, almost on 
area occupied by the plant in Britain. 
