PRIMULACE^. 135 



Montgomery also alludes to the process of wine-making from the flowers — 



" Whose simple sweets with curious skill 

 The frugal cottage dames distil, 



Nor en^-y France the vine. 

 While many a festal cup they fill 



With Britain's homely wine." 



The root of the Cowslip is also astringent and diuretic, and was at one time used 

 medicinally. It has a scent i-esembling anise, and is valued as a perfume in some 

 parts of Eui'opc. The leaves are wholesome, and may be eaten as a salad or a 

 potherb. 



SPECIES III.— P RIMULA ELATIOR. Linn. (?) Jacq. 



Plate MCXXXI. 



Bekli. Ic. Fl. Germ, at Helv. Vol. XVII. Tab. MXC. Fig. 1. 



BlUot, Fl. Gall, et Germ. Exsicc. No. 63. 



P. veris. (i clatior, Linu. Spec. Plant, p. 204. 



Leaves ovate-oval or oval-obovate, abruptly or rather abruptly con- 

 tracted at the base into winged petioles, rounded at the apex or sub- 

 obtuse, irregularly erose-denticulate, rugose. Umbel raised on a scape ; 

 pedicels about equal to the calyx, more or less drooping. Calyx 

 5-sided-prismatic; teeth nearly half the length of the tube, broadly 

 oblong-lanceolate, acuminate, acute. Corolla with the limb narrower 

 across than the length of tlie tube, widely funnelshaped ; segments 

 obovate-quadrate, flat; throat not contracted, without any folds. Capsule 

 oblong-ovoid, longer than the tube of the calyx. Pubescence of the 

 scape, pedicels, and calyx of rather long shaggy jointed hairs. 



In woods and meadows on clay soil. Local. Plentiful in some parts 

 of Essex, Suffolk, and Cambridge. 



England. Perennial. Spring, early Summer. 



P. elatior differs from P. officinalis in the leaves being generally less 

 contracted at the base, though in some specimens they are quite as 

 much so, in the flowers being less drooping, the calyx-teeth longer 

 and much accuminated towards the apex, wliich is acute. The corolla 

 has the limb usually larger than in the cowslip, and Avidely funnel- 

 shaped, not saucershaped, and of a pale buff"-yellow, without any con- 

 traction at the throat, being quite destitute of the bosses -which are 

 present in the primrose and cowslip ; the segments of the limb are 

 also narrower. The capsule is much longer in proportion to the calyx. 

 The pubescence is much longer and more shaggy. 



Jaquiri's Oxlip. 

 French, Primevere inodore. German, holier Himmelschlilssvl. 



