IN THE Sl'KCIES OF PRIMULA. 79 



specimens, dry and wet, taken from plants growing in difterent 

 situations, and always found a palpable difference. The measure- 

 ment is best made with grains distended with water, in which case, 

 the usual size of the grains from short-styled flowers is seen to be 

 ~T6o5^ of an inch in diameter, and those from the long-styled about 

 M^go of an inch, which is in the proportion of three to two ; so that 

 the pollen-grains from the short stamens are plainly smaller than 

 those from the long stamens which accompany the short pistil. 

 When examined dry, the smaller grains from the long-styled plants 

 are seen under a low power to be more transparent than the larger 

 grains, and apparently in a greater degree than can be accounted 

 for by their less diameter. There is also a difference in shape, 

 the grains from the short-styled plants being nearly spherical, 

 those from the long- styled being oblong with the angles rounded ; 

 this difference in shape disappears when the grains are distended 

 with water. Lastly, as we shall presentl)- see, the short- styled 

 plants produce more seed than the long-styled. 



To sum up the differences : — The long-styled plants have a mucli 

 longer pistil, with a globular and much rouglier stigma, standing 

 high above the anthers. The stamens are short ; the grains of 

 pollen smaller and oblong in shape. The upper half of the tube 

 of the corolla is more expanded. The number of seeds produced is 

 smaller. 



The short-styled plants have a short pistil, half the length of the 

 tube of the corolla, with a smooth depressed stigma standing be- 

 neath the anthers. The stamens are long ; the grains of pollen 

 are spherical and larger. The tube of the corolla is of the same 

 diameter tiU close to its upper end. Tlie number of seeds pro- 

 duced is larger. 



I have examined a large number of flowers ; and though the 

 shape of the stigma and the length of the pistil vary, especially 

 in the short-styled form, I have never seen any transitional grades 

 between the two forms. There is never the slightest doubt under 

 wliich form to class a plant. I have never seen the two forms on tlie 

 same plant. I marked many Cowslips and Primroses, and found, 

 the following year, that all retained the same character, as did 

 some in my garden which flowered out of their proper season in 

 the autumn. Mr. W. Wooler, of Darlington, however, informs 

 us that he has seen the early blossoms on Polyanthuses which 

 were not long-styled, bvit which later in the season produced flowers 

 of this form. Possibly the pistils may not in these cases have 

 become fully developed during the early spring. An excellent 



