Tas. 8135, 
PRIMULA orsicotaris. 
China. 
Primvuractag. Tribe PRIMULEAE. 
Primuta, L.; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant. vol. ii. p. 631. 
Primula (§ Nivales, Paw) orbicularis, Hemsl. in Gard. Chron. 1906, 
vol. xxxix. pp. 290 et 403, f. 164; species ex affinitate P. sikkimensis et 
P. Stuartit a quibus foliis fere integris, corollae tubo calycem vix 
excedente et limbo rotato lobis integerrimis differt. 
Folia subcoriacea, oblongo-lanceolata, 5-15 cm. longa, inferiora minora, 
obtusa, longitudinaliter recurva, minute dentata, in petiolum late alatum 
subvaginantem angustata, primum minute farinosa. Scapus 15-30 cm. 
altus, teres, ac flores favo- vel albo-farinosus. Involucri bracteae parvae, 
pedicellis breviores, basi incrassatae, connatae. Umbellae usque ad 
20-florae, densae, 7-8 cm. diametro, pedicellis brevitus. Flores 2°0-3 cm. 
diametro, lutei,fragrantes. Calyx crassus, campanulatus, circiter 15 em. 
longus, intus extraque farinosus. Corollae hypocraterimorphae tubus 
puberulus, calycem vix excedens, prope apicem et infra medium ad 
staminum insertionem constrictus, fauce angusta, crenulata; limbus per 
totam superficiem yuberulus, orbicularis, rotatus, planus, lobis fere orbi- 
cularibus leviter imbricatis integerrimis margine ciliolatis. Stamina ad 
tubi constrictionem infra medium affixa, filamentis brevissimis, antheris 
circiter 2 mm. longis. Stylus inclusus, stamina superans. Capsula 
mihi ignota. 
Among the numerous new species of Primula from 
Western China P. orbicularis promises well, but it is too 
early to predict its future under cultivation. This species 
was raised by Messrs. James Veitch & Sons from seed 
brought home by Mr. E. H. Wilson, and it flowered for the 
first time last May. Mr. Wilson did not collect flower- 
ing specimens, but he was almost satisfied that his dried 
specimens in seed, numbered 3003,, represent the same 
species. He may be right, though they present differences 
which lead to a doubt as to the identification. In the first 
place they are more robust than the cultivated plants that 
I have seen. The leaves are 6 to 8 in. long, and have 
a distinct petiole, nearly as long as the blade, and the 
stout scape is 15 in. high, and bears two distinct tiers of 
seed-vessels. The pretty flowers of P. orbicularis are 
agreeably fragrant. The name is given in reference to 
the outline of the limb of the corolla, as well as of the 
separate lobes of the same. 
Descr.—A more or less mealy perennial. Leaves thick, 
May Ist, 1907. 
