328 THE STORY OF PLANT LIFE 



46. The Primrose Group (Summary). 



{Introductory Volume^ p. 1^8.) 



Two members of the order Primulaceae were 

 described in the Introductory Volume — the Great 

 Yellow Loosestrife and the Primrose. In this volume 

 three others are described — Scarlet Pimpernel, Water 

 Violet, and Brookweed. 



Four divisions of this group have been made. In 

 the Primulacese the ovary is superior, and the cap- 

 sule valvular. The hilum is ventral. This includes 

 the Primroses, Sowbread, Loosestrifes, Chickweed 

 Wintergreen, Sea Milkwort. In the Anagallideas 

 the ovary is superior, the capsule opens trans- 

 versely, and the hilum is ventral, and this includes 

 the Bastard Pimpernel and Scarlet Pimpernel. In 

 the Hottonieae the ovary is superior, with anatro- 

 pous ovules. The capsule is valvular. The hilum 

 is basal. The Water Violet is the only type. In 

 the Samolese the ovary is inferior, the ovules are 

 anatropous. The capsule is valvular, and the hilum 

 is basal, as in Brookweed, also the only British type. 



There are three hundred and fifty species, and 

 nearly thirty genera in this group. They have a 

 wide range, but are chiefly characteristic of the 

 Northern Temperate zone. 



The Primrose group consists chiefly of perennials 

 or occasionally annuals. The plants are herbaceous. 

 They have rhizomes or tubers. Many have the rosette 

 habit, as in the Primrose and Cowslip. The leaves 



