north; they were obtained by Mr. W. Purdom in the 
mountains of Northern Wei-chang, at about 9000 feet above 
the sea. The species has also been recorded from Shansi by 
Giraldi. The doubt connected with P. Maximowiezii has 
had regard to the colour of the corolla. This, in all dried 
specimens, is purple, and ‘ purple’ is the colour attributed 
to the plant both by Regel and by Pax. Yet Hancock 
found that his specimens, when fresh, had the corolla 
‘intense crimson, and Potanin, an equally reliable 
observer, found one plant with ‘red, another with 
‘yellow’ corollas. Nor are our doubts even now at an 
end. Our figure was prepared on 23rd March, 1910, from. 
a plant sent to Kew from the Coombe Wood Nursery for 
identification ; the colour, somewhat remarkable and unusual 
in a Primula, accords with the experience of Hancock. 
Yet, on the previous day, the Gardeners’ Chronicle states 
(l.c. p. 221), a Certificate was awarded by the Royal Horti- 
cultural Society to a plant of the same species shown by 
Messrs. Veitch which had a ‘dark, clear purple’ corolla. 
The nearest ally of P. Maximowiczii is a Primula from 
Western Kansu, which Maximowicz considered to be no 
more than a variety of our plant. Five years ago, however, 
Duthie and Pax independently and simultaneously accorded 
specific rank to this variety, as P. tangutica. Their species, 
which appears always to have a ‘ dark purple’ corolla, has 
been figured at t. 8043 of this work. It differs mainly 
from the plant now described in haying longer calyx-teeth, 
narrower corolla-lobes, and in the upper portion of the 
scape being distinctly puberulous. P, Maximowiczii proves 
to be perfectly hardy, and Messrs. Veiteh find that it thrives 
best in a mixture of peat, loam and sand, in equal propor- 
tions, and grows most satisfactorily when given a shady 
position. 
Description.—/fer), perennial, green, all parts except 
the ciliate ealyx-lobes glabrous. Leaves all radical, narrow 
elliptic or oblong-elliptic, obtuse or subacute, narrowed 
below into a membranous winged petiole, crenulate-toothed, 
13-6 in. long, 3-2 in. wide, bright green above, paler 
beneath, lateral nerves many on either side, conspicuous 
above and evident beneath. Scape stout, cylindric, erect, 
much longer than the leaves, 8-12 in. high, with a terminal, 
