204 FLORA HISTORICA. 



which Nature plays her frolics, and which she loves 

 to paint in all the varieties of whimsicality and di- 

 versity of rich hues, it was eagerly sought after by 

 all the florists of Europe, and was soon brought to 

 the highest, state of perfection by the English culti- 

 vators, who, in the flowering of the Auricula, have 

 left even the Flemings far in the back-ground. 



At what exact period this Primula of the moun- 

 tains was first brought to England is uncertain, but 

 Gerard speaks of it as no stranger in 1597, and 

 observes, " it do grow in our London gardens. 1 '' 

 This author calls it Beare's-eares, or Mountaine 

 Cowslips, and Auricula Ursiflora. The leaves of 

 this plant are thought to resemble the ears of the 

 bear, on which account it received the Latin name 

 of Auricula Ursi, and the French Oreille d , ours i as 

 well as the Italian Orecchia cVorso. 



It is thought to be the Alisma of Dioscorides. 

 Matthiolus and Pena call it Sanicula Alpina, from 

 its character of healing wounds. It has also been 

 named Paralytica by old herbalists, on account of 

 its being esteemed a remedy for the palsy. 



When this plant was established as a favourite in 

 the garden, it was sought for on most of the moun- 

 tains of the continent. Carolus Clusius found it 

 on the mountains of German}', and it has since been 

 discovered in Switzerland, Carniola, Savoy and 

 Piedmont. 



