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BOTANICAL NOTICE FOR APRIL. 

 THE PRIMROSE. 



This class of plants are remarkable for nothing but their beauty 

 and their general cultivation in our gardens. 



The primrose, cowslip, ox-slip, and polyanthus are found growing 

 abundantly in the neighbourhood of Hull, the earliest specimens of 

 which appear on the banks of Sculcoates lane and at Newland. The 

 natural oixier to which they belong (Primulaceoe) are characterised 

 by having a monopetalous corolla, divided into five segments, the 

 calyx is 4-5 cleft ; the stamens are five in number, and inserted 

 upon the corolla, oi)posite to its segments ; the ovary is one-celled, 

 containing a large number of ovules ; the stigma single and capitate, 

 that is, having a rounded head. 



The great uniformity of these characters occasions the largest 

 part of the order to be included in the Linnaean class pentandria, 

 and order, monogynia ; this class and order contains a numerous 

 family of plants growing in this neighbourhood, and among which 

 may be mentioned the Anagallis or Pimpernel, commonly termed the 

 poor man's weather glass, from its property of closing on the approach 

 of a stonn ; and the Lysimachia, or Loose-strife, inhabiting moist 

 places. The group is eiitensively diffused over the glot)e, but Is more 

 abundant in northern and in mountainous countries. 



It may be scarcely suspected, that those prettiest of spring 

 flowers are in any way related to the venomous family of plants the 

 solanew, or deadly nightshade tribe, yet such is the fact. Like the 

 nightshade tribe they have regular monopetalous flowers, with five 

 stamens and a superior ovary ; they are sometimes similar in habit, 

 as in the case of the mandrake, which resembles a gigantic primrose 

 with white flowers, marked by purple veins ; and they also possess 

 slight narcotic properties. There is but one essential circumstance 

 by which they are distinguished, their stamens are not placed 

 between the lobes of the corolla, as in the nightshade tribe, but are 

 opposite to them; a very curious aftd permanent diflference. If the 

 corolla has fallen off and some mark is sought to distinguish the 

 two tribes, we shall find in the nightshade tribe two cells in the ovary, 

 but that of the primrose contains only one cell. 



