1983 



PRIMULA venusta. 



Purple Auricula. 



PENTANDRIA MOfiOC.YJilA. 



Nat. ord. Primulace^. 

 PRIMULA. Supri), vol. 7. fol. 539. 



P. venusta ; foliis oblongo-obovatis unduktis glabris repando-denticulatis, flori- 

 bus umbellatis nutantibus, calyce tubuloso quinquefido. Hort. Fl. Anstr. 

 1. 248. Reichenb.pl. crit. 7. t. 851. 



" P. Freyeri, Hoppe." sec Reickenb. 



Brought from the Botanic Garden, Vienna, in 1833, by 

 the Hon. W. F. Strangways, from whom was received the 

 specimen that furnished the accompanying figure in May 

 last. 



The species was first distinguished from P. auricula by 

 Host, on account of its smootli toothletted leaves, long- 

 tubed calyx, and purple flowers ; he liad procured it from 

 the hilly parts of Hungary, about Hladnik, and also from 

 Mount Baldo. Reichenbach, upon various authorities, adds 

 the crevices of rocks at Krain near Idria, the alps of Kobila, 

 and Laybach, placing the species near glut'mosa and carnio- 

 lica at a distance from P. auricula. In fact it seems to differ 

 from P. carniolica chiefly in its more obovate denticulated 

 leaves. 



Mr. Strangways suspects that, as there are amongst the 

 garden Auriculas varieties which from length of tube, 

 form of limb, &c. do not appear to have come from one origi- 

 nal species, this may have been in part their parent, a con- 

 jecture which the eye of the corolla much strengthens. 



