PRIMULACE^E. 



stigma globular. Capsule cylindrical, as long as the calyx, which 

 invests it closely, of 1 cell, opening with 10 acute parallel teeth. 

 Seeds numerous, roundish, covering a central, ovate-oblong, un- 

 connected receptacle. Smith. 



789. P. veris Linn, sp.pl. 204. Eng. Bot. t. 5. Fl. Dan. t. 433. 

 Eng. Fl. i. 271. — P. officinalis Jacq. misc. i. 159. Fl. Lond. 1. 15. 

 — Meadow and pastures, especially in clayey soil. (Cowslip.) 



Leaves hoar}', more finely downy and soft than in either the Primrose 

 or Oxlip, contracted in the middle, so as frequently to become heart- 

 shaped, as it were, with winged footstalks ; their margin wavy, as well 

 as toothed. Flowers numerous, in 1 or more umbels, with small 

 partial bracteas, on downy common stalks much taller than the leaves. 

 Calyx downy. Limb of the corolla much smaller than in the Oxlip, 

 concave, or cup-shaped ; of a deeper yellow on the upper side, with 5 

 orange spots. Smith. — The flowers possess well marked sedative 

 properties and make a pleasant soporific wine. 



ANAGALLIS. 



Calyx in 5 deep, spreading, acute, keeled segments, perma- 

 nent. Corolla wheel-shaped ; tube none ; limb nearly flat, in 

 5 deep, roundish-ovate segments, contracted at their base. Fi- 

 laments erect, slender, shorter than the corolla, clothed, in the 

 middle part more especially, with prominent glandular hairs ; 

 anthers heart-shaped. Style thread-shaped ; stigma capitate, 

 or sometimes simple. Capsule globular, of 1 cell, thin and pel- 

 lucid, splitting horizontally into 2 hemispherical valves. Seeds 

 numerous, angular, abrupt, covering a large, central, orbicular, 

 pitted, unconnected receptacle. Smith. 



790. A. arvensis Linn. sp. pi. 211. Eng. Bot. t. 529. Fl. 

 Lond. t. 12. Eng. Fl.'i. 280. — Corn-fields and waste places all 

 over Europe. (Pimpernel.) 



Root small. Stem branched from the lower part, often dotted with 

 purple, more or less procumbent, square. Leaves sessile, ovate, many 

 ribbed ; dotted with purple at the back. Flower-stalks angular, longer 

 than the leaves, twisted and recurved after flowering. Segments of the 

 calyx lanceolate, pointed, keeled, membranous at the edges. Corolla 

 bright scarlet, with a violet-coloured mouth, closing at the approach of 

 rain j its edges finely crenate, or minutely fringed with glands. Stamens 

 purple, hairy, dilated and smooth at the base. Anthers yellow, heart- 

 shaped. Style purple, permanent. Stigma capitate. Capsule pale and 

 transparent, the size of a pea, separating all round, the valves marked 

 with some indications of longitudinal separations, which seldom take 

 effect. Seeds roughish, abrupt externally, each with a central dot. Smith. 

 — This has had some reputation in cases of madness. It appears to 

 possess energetic powers, for Orfila destroyed a dog by making him 

 swallow 3 drachms of the extract ; it was found to have inflamed 

 the mucous membrane of the stomach. A similar result was obtained 

 by Grenier. It has been prescribed in epilepsy and dropsy. 



386 



