244 PRIMULA. [class v. order i. 



2. P. ela'tior, With. (Fig. .3G3.) Oxlip Primrose. Leaves ovate, 

 contracted bolow tlie middle, wiinHed, and irregularly toothed ; stalk 

 many flowered ; limb of the corolla flat. 



English Botany, t. 513. — English Flora, vol. i. p. 271.— Hooker, 

 British Flora, vol. i. p. 107. — Lindley, Synopsis, p. 184. — Primula 

 vpris, 13. elaiior, Linn. Sp. 204. 



Hoot scaly, with numerous branched fibres. Leaves ovate, wrinkled, 

 waved, and irregularly toothed, contracted about the middle, by \vhi«>h 

 they differ from the leaves of P. vulgaris. This character is not, how- 

 ever, a constant one. Flowers mostly numerous, elevated on a round 

 downy stalk, in an umbellate manner, from two to eight inches high. 

 Pedicles of variable lengths, but ultimately all becoming the same, 

 each having at its base a small thin subulate scale. Calyx less downy 

 than P. vulgaris, and the corolla smaller, the dark ray around the 

 orilice of the tube mostly darker. 



Habitat. — Woods and groves ; not uncommon. 



Perennial ; flowering in April and May. 



Much doubt is entertained of this being a distinct species from the 

 above, some persons supposing it to be an hybrid between it and the 

 following. It certainly is very variable in its appearance, and those 

 characters by which it is distinguished are by no means constant; for 

 instance, the leaves are frecjuently found without the contraction in 

 the middle, while the flowers on the same root have been found single 

 on a scape, and others numerous in an umbel. It varies greatly in the 

 colour of its flowers, and by cultivation many very beautiful shades are 

 obtained, known by the name of Polyanthus. 



3. P. ve^ris, Linn. (Fig. 324.) common Cowslip or Paigle. Leaves 

 ovate, contracted about the middle, wrinkled, and irregularly toothed ; 

 stalk many flowered ; limb of the corolla concave. 



English Botany, t. 5. — English Flora, vol. i. p. 272. — Hooker, 

 British Flora, vol. i. p. 107. — Lindley, Synopsis, p. 184. — Primula 

 veris, a. officinalis, L, Sj). 204. 



Root similar to the above. Leaves ovate, contracted about the 

 middle, fretjuently heart-shaped at the base, wrinkled and veiny, the 

 margin waved, and more or less toothed, the edges curled back, parti- 

 cularly in a young state, dark green above, paler beneath, and more or 

 less downy, especially towards the margin. Flou-ers numerous, in a 

 simple umbel, on a round stalk, from three to eight inches long, clothed 

 with soft close pedicles of variable lengths, drooping, each having at its 

 base an ovate subulate scale. Cali/x downy, its teeth acute, or obtuse, 

 sometimes emarginato. Condla smaller than either of the above. The 

 tube as long, or longer than the calyx. The limb concave, of five 

 notched lobes, each having at its base a dark orange .spot. Stamens 

 nearly sessile above the middle of the tube. Pistil longer than the 

 tube. Stigma capitate. 



