118 MEDICINAL HERBS AND POISONOUS PLANTS 



solid round mass of tissue (the pLicenta), on which are 

 placed the numerous ovules which the ovary contains. 

 We may make, in imagination, a model of the ovary by 

 placing a golf -ball inside a hollow rubber ball, and then 

 plastering the golf -ball with fairly large round bullets. 

 A section throuo-h such a model across the middle would 

 present the same appearance as fig. 72, a. The^ whole 

 order presents, in addition, a peculiarity of arrangement 

 in the flower which is very helpful for diagnosing pur- 

 poses, namely, the position of tlie stamens, which are 

 placed op'posite to, and not alternate wath, the petals 

 (fig. 72, c). In most flowers the stamens are inserted in 

 the position marked A in the diagram, that is, between 

 the petals. 



All the species are herbaceous, most of the members 

 being forms of lowly growth, The sepals are joined and 

 so are the petals. The number of parts is usually 5, 

 but sometimes 4 



Primula Group. — This comprises the familiar Wild 

 Primrose (Primula vulgaris), the Cowslip {Primula 



veris), Oxlip (Primula elatior), and- others. Of the 

 many cultivated varieties of the genus Primula, the 



Japanese Primrose (Primula, obconica) is the only one 

 which has to be handled with care, as its juice affects the 

 skin, producing a form of Urticaria, prominent patches 

 and wheals appearing; sometimes the hands swell and 

 are very painful. 



From Cowslip is made a pleasant soporific wine. Tlie 

 flowers are in great demand by lierbalists, but hitherto 

 they have been imported, the plant being doubtless con- 

 sidered not worth collectincj in this country. 



In the Alps the leaves of Auricula (Primula Aw^- 

 cula) are used as a remedy for coughs. 



Cyclamen (Cyclamen sp.).— It is easy to distinguish a 

 Cyclamen from the rest of the Primnlacem. because of 



