28 NAT. ORDER. — PRIMULACEIS:. 



obovate-oblong, about five iiiclies in length, nearly upright, tapering 

 to the base, blunt, veiny, wrinkled, smooth above, hirsute beneath, 

 rolled back at the edge wiien young, slightly waved, unequally 

 notched, the midiib whitish, terminating in a footstalk of a reddish 

 color, channelled on one side and keeled on the other ; the scapes or 

 peduncles numerous, the length of the leaves, upright, round, hirsute, 

 pale green, having awl-shaped bracteas at the base, after the flow- 

 ering is over bending back ; flowers upright, large, sweet-scented ; 

 the corolla is of a pale sulphur color ; each of the five clefts are ob- 

 cordate, and marked at the base with a spot of a much deeper yel- 

 low ; the mouth has a foint rim round it. The flower of the wild 

 Primrose is of a deep brimstone color ; but in some places it is found 

 of a purple hue. The varieties of this species are numerous, being 

 Dartly wild and partly cultivated. 



Primula elatior — Great Cowslip or Oxlip. This species has 

 the leaves contracted towards the middle, similar to tiie Cowslip ; 

 the scapes are few, erect, longer than the leaves, many-flowered ; 

 flowers umbelled, pedicelled, the outer ones generally nodding ; like 

 those of the Primrose in form and color, but smaller. From wliich 

 it is evidently distinguished by its many-flowered scape ; as it is from 

 the Cowslip by the flat border of the corolla. It is found in the 

 woods and other places of this country, flowering in April and May. 



Martin, speaking of this plant, remarks, " that if it be a variety, 

 it is rather of the former than the latter ; but we are inclined to 

 think that it is a hybrid production, or mule from a Primrose impreg- 

 nated by a Cowslip. It varies much in the color of the flowers, but 

 the most are purple-flowered, red-flowered, golden-flowered, orange- 

 floXvered, with vai-ious shades of each. 



Primula officinalis — Common Cowslip, or Paigle. This has a 

 root like that of the Primrose, but smelling more powerfully of anise ; 

 the leaves are obovate-oblong, contracted suddenly towards the mid- 

 dle, or rather ovate with the petiole winged, siiorter than those of 

 the Primrose by nearly one-half, fuller at the edge, which is some- 



