PRIMULACEiE. 145 



segments lanceolate, acuminate, margined with dull red, ciliated. 

 Corolla widely bellshaped, with 5 oval subobtuse ascending segments, 

 without a tooth in the sinus between them, dotted with yellow glands 

 on the inside only, not ciliated -svith gland-tipped Iiairs. Stamens 5, 

 shorter than the corolla, combined at the base into a tube for a third 

 their length. Plant pubescent with jointed glandular hairs or nearly 

 glabrous. 



In damp places and by the sides of ditches, rivers, &c. Rather 

 common, and generally distributed in England. Rare in Scotland, 

 especially on the east side, reaching north to ]\IulI, in Argyllshire, and 

 Aberdeen. Local in Ireland, but generally distributed. 



England, Scotland, Ireland. Perennial. Late Summer, Autumn. 



Rootstock creeping, emitting numerous white stolons. Stem rather 

 stout, 18 inches to 4 feet high, simple or more or less branched. 

 Leaves generally in whorls of 3, or sometimes 4, or in weak plants 

 opposite, variable in the length of the petiole, which is sometimes 

 scarcely discernible, at other times as much as i inch in length; 

 lamina 2 to 5 inches long, very variable in breadth, usually acu- 

 minated towards the apex, commonly longer than the internodes, 

 the uppermost ones minute. Peduncles at the top of the stem simple, 

 those in the axils of the upper leaves corymbosely branched, rarely 

 simple, very variable in length and in the number of flowers they bear, 

 forming by their union a short pyramidal panicle. Bracts strap- 

 shaped, usually much shorter than the pedicels. Calyx segments 

 bordered with purplish red, and with a very narrow pellucid margin, 

 which is ciliated with gland-tipped hairs. Corolla i inch long, between 

 bellshaped and fimnelshaped, bright yellow, thickly sprinkled with glands 

 inside, glabrous without. Filaments often red, concealing the germen 

 in the tube formed by then- combined bases, which is dotted over with 

 glands similar to those in the ulterior of the corolla. Capsule often 

 abortive, when perfect globular, longer than the calyx, opening by 5 

 valves. Seeds minute, trigonous, rovighened with minute pohits, 

 fiiwn-coloured. Stem generally pubescent, especially above, the pedi- 

 cels almost always clothed with short jointed glandular hairs, a few 

 of which are generally present on the back of the sepals ; leaves 

 bright green and sul^glabrous above, glaucous and more or less thickly 

 pubescent with short hairs beneath, unequally sprinkled with purplish 

 black glandular dots. 



Common Loosestrife. 



Freucli, Lijsimaque commune. Germsm, genieincr Fricdlos. 



The reputatiou of tliis plant for taming fierce animals may possibly be traced to its 

 supposed sedative properties. The Romans believed that the flowers put under the 

 yokes of oxen kei)t them from (juarrelling, and it is probable that the plant, by keeping 

 VOL. VII. U 



