PRIMULACE^ 



117 



trilobate, obtuse at the extremity, and slightly 

 waved at the edges. The lower lip is rounded, 

 curved downward at the sides, and slightly folded. 

 The lower part of the corolla is cordate, orange, 

 and as long as the upper lip. The nectary is a 

 conical spur rising from the base of the corolla, 

 and projecting from the lower lip. There are 2 

 stamens with anthers turned inwards connected 

 with the stigma. The pistil has a round ovary, 

 and a cylindrical permanent style, ending in a 

 short tooth, and in the flattened depressed stigma. 

 The stigma is bare on the side turned towards the 

 stamens, but clothed with fine hairs on the other 

 side. The capsule is round, opening circularly, 

 1 -celled, and surmounted by the persistent style. 

 The seeds are 6-cornered, raised in the middle 

 on both sides, and attached to the loose seed- 

 capsule. 



The leaf-bladders are filled with water at first, 

 and hold the plant under the surface. But before 

 the plant flowers, the bladders become full of air, 

 and float it up to the surface. When the flowering- 

 time is over, the air is expelled from the bladders, 



and they again become full of water, and the plant 

 sinks below the surface as before. 



Order LXI. Primulacece (9 genera) 



This Order includes low plants, with rather large 

 leaves. The calyx is persistent, and has from 5 to 

 7 sepals ; the corolla has 5 petals (rarely 4 or 7), or 

 is absent. The stamens are opposite to the petals, 

 and equal them in number. The ovary consists of 

 only 1 cell, and the style and stigma are of ordinary 

 form. The flower is succeeded by a capsule. 



Cowslip — Primula veris 



(Plate LXXVI) 



The Cowslip is common everywhere in meadows, 

 and flowers in May. The root is white, and con- 

 siderably forked. The leaves, which cluster round 

 the root, are stalked, oval, obtuse, wrinkled and 

 notched, and are gradually narrowed into the stalk. 

 The stem is simple, smooth, round, and com- 

 paratively tall. The flowers, which are arranged 



