TRIMULACEiE. 131 



oblique, 5-lobed. Stamens five. Capsule globular or ovate-ovoid, 

 opening at the apex by 5 entire or 2-cIeft valves. Seeds numerous, 

 amphitro2>ous. 



Herbs witli the leaves generally all in a radical rosette. Scapes 

 smiple; flowers in terminal umbels, more rarely in whorls. Many of 

 the species of this genus present dimorphous flowers, some individuals 

 having the anthers in the throat of the corolla, concealing the stigma, 

 while in others the anthers are situated in the tube, and the stigma is 

 exserted upon a longer style. These two forms are shown by Mr. 

 Darwin to be an approach to dioecious flowers, few seeds beinf 

 produced from either class of individuals by themselves. 



The commonly accepted derivation of the name of this genus of phints is fi-o;n the 

 Latin word Prlmtdiis, very early, on account of the species tlowering early in the 

 spring. 



Section I.— PRIMULASTRUM. Diibij. 



Calyx with 5 angles, about as long as the tube of the corolla. 

 Leaves evergreen, rugose, not mealy beneath, with revolute mai-gins 

 when young. JJracts of the involucre saccate at the base. 



SPECIES I.-PRIMUL A VULGARIS. Ends* 



Plate MCXXIX. 



RekJi. Ic. Fl. Germ, et Helv. Vol. XVII. Tab. MCI. Figs. 2 and 3. 



BUlof, Fl. Gall, et Germ. Exsicc. No. 165. 



P. veris, y, acaulis, Linn. Sp. Plant, p. 205. 



P. vcris, var. a, Benth. Haudbk. Brit. Bot. ed. ii. p. 302. 



P. acaulis, Jarq., Koch, Sj'n. Fl. Germ, et Helv. ed. ii. ji. (373. 



P. grandiflora. Lain. Uabij. m B.C. Prod. Vol. XVIII. p. 37. Gren. &, Gudi: Fl. do 



Fr. Vol. n. p. 447. Fn't'.-i. Summ. Veg. Scand. p. 21. 

 P. sylvestris, Seep. Reich. Jd. 1. c. p. 35. 



Leaves oblanceolate, gradually narrowed to the base, without a dis- 

 tinct petiole, rounded at the apex, irregularly erose-denticulate. Umbel 

 sessile, always (?) destitute of a scape; pedicels many times exceedino- 



* I have retained the name P. vulgaris, by which the Primrose is universally known 

 in this country, though by right of priority of nomenclature there is no doubt it should 

 bear that of P. acaulis, which was applied to it by LinniEus, who distinguished the form, 

 although considering it as a variety, and not a species. I should have adopted his 

 name had it been generally kno>r!i by it on the continent. As it is, however, there 

 is no unanimity among continental authors in adopting P. acaidis, so it is better to 

 apply to the Primrose the name which British authors agree in calling it, confininrr 

 myself to a protest in favour of the priority of Linnaeus' name for this species. 



s 2 



