132 ENGLISH BOTANY. 



tlie cal^'x, sub-erect. Calyx 5-side(l-prismatic; teeth nearly two-fiftlis 

 the length of the tube, narrowly triangular-lanceolate, acute. IJmb of 

 the corolla about twice as broad across as the length of the tube, 

 r^.tately spreading; segments suborbicular, flat; throat slightly con- 

 tracted, with 5 folds. Capsule ovate-ovoid, as long as the calyx tube. 

 Pubescence on the pedicels and angles of the calyx of long shaggy 

 jointed hairs. 



In woods, hedgebanks, meadows, and the borders of fields, and by 

 the sides of streams. Very conunon, and universally distributed. 



England, Scotland, Ireland. Perennial. Spring, early Summer. 



Rootstock thick, with fleshy scales, foi'med by the bases of decayed 

 leaves. Leaves in a rosette, when full grown from 4 to 9 inches long, 

 attenuated towards the base, so that tlie lower part may be described 

 either as a winged petiole or as the narrowed base of the lamina, 

 the margins faintly denticulated, and in a,ddition connnonly scolloped 

 towards the base, revolute when young, rugose, from the veins being 

 impressed on the upper side, and prominent beneath. Scape always* 

 inideveloped. Bracts at the base of the pedicels linear, gradually 

 tapering to the acute point. Pedicels when full grown 3 to (J inches 

 long, clothed with hairs longer than the diameter of the pedicels. 

 Calyx f to |- inch long, with a sharp angle running- down from each of 

 the teeth, and upon this angle there are hairs similar to those on the 

 ])edicels; the margins of the teeth have similar but rather shorter 

 hairs. Corolla 1;^ to 2 inches across, pale yellow with an orange- 

 yellow mark at the base of each segment, sometimes more or less 

 Ijurple or rarely white; segments deeply notched or obcordate at the 

 apex ; throat with a groove in the middle of each segment, and a 

 sliglitly raised bilobed boss between each of the grooves. Fruit 

 pedicel lying on the ground. Fruit-calyx with the segments sub- 

 connivent over the capsule. Plant green, the leaves paler beneath, 

 and when young often thickly clothed with arachnoid hairs. 



Common Primrose, 



FrcncL, riiiucctre da prltdcmps. Gei'man, HivimeL-chlussel-SchliissdhliDiie. 



The ordinarily accepted etymology of the name of this well-known plant, as signi- 

 fying the first spring flower, is objected to by Dr. Prior, who writes thus: "Primrose, 

 fi'om Pryme roller, the name it bears in old books and MSS. The Grete Herbale 

 says, ' It is called Prj-me Rolles of pryme tj'nie, because it beareth the first floure in 

 pryme tyme.' It is also called so in Frere Randolph's catalogue. Chaucer writes it 

 in one word, ■primerole. This common plant afibrds a most extraordinary example 



* A plant differing solely by the presence of a scape sometimes occurs, but I 

 suspect it to be a hybrid, as 1 never knew it to be met witli in districts were P. ofli- 

 ciualis does noL grow. 



