78 MR.J. SCOTT ON THE FUNCTIONS AND STRUCTURE OF THE 
Observations on the Functions and Structure of the Reproduc- 
tive Organs in the Primulacee. By Mr. Joun Scorr, Royal 
Botanic Gardens, Edinburgh. Communicated by CHARLES 
Darwin, Esq., F.R.S. & L.S. 
[Read Feb. 4, 1864.] 
In the paper which I have the honour to submit to the Society, 
my principal object is to give an account of a few- experiments, 
made chiefly in the course of the present year, on several of the 
* dimorphic” and “ non-dimorphie” species of Primula, the re- 
markable sexual relations of which were entirely unknown until 
Mr. Darwin laid before this Society his interesting paper on the 
subject. I have also, with the view of more completely elucidating 
the subject of dimorphism in the Primulas, prefixed to these a 
brief account of the structure and indications of the resultant 
functions in a few other genera of the order, which may not be 
uninteresting, as apparently showing that those sexual relations 
manifested in the genus Primula are common to other genera of 
the order *. 
1. The genus Hottonia presents dimorphic characteristics in at 
least its solitary British representative, the common Water- 
Violet, H. palustris. Of this plant I can say little from personal 
observations, but, through the kindness of Mr. Darwin, who 
obligingly sent me his manuscript account of it, I am enabled to 
add, from his observations, the following interesting account of 
its structural dimorphism:— Various authors have remarked 
that the Hottonia palustris presents two forms. Fresh specimens 
sent to me from North Wales were grandly dimorphic. In the 
long-styled form the pistil is more than twice as long as in the 
other form, and projects far out of the flower; the stigma is 
smaller and rougher than that of the short-styled, and the anthers 
lie within the tube of the corolla. In the short-styled form the 
* I will here take the opportunity to acknowledge my great obligations to 
Mr. M'Nab for the privilege I have, under him, enjoyed in carrying on the 
experiments which I am now about to detail, the majority of which were per- 
formed upon plants in the Royal Botanie Gardens here. 
I am also in the present instance, as in many others, particularly indebted 
to Mr. Sterling, of Stockbridge, Edinburgh, for the facilities he has afforded me 
in the following out my experimenta, by placing at my disposal his fine collec- 
tion of plants. 
