66 PRIMULACEJS 



loveliest of aquatic plants, with their pink, pnrple, yellow, or white flowers. 

 The blossoms are so fragile that they scarcely survive the gathering ; nor do 

 they retain any of their beauty when dried, changing in the herbarium to a 

 dark, almost black, hue. 



Order LXV.— PRIMULACEiE-PRIMROSE TRIBE. 



Calyx 5-cleft, rarely 4-cleft, and in Trientalis 5 — 9-cleft, regular, not falling 

 off; corolla of as many lobes as the calyx (wanting in Glaux) ; stamens equal- 

 ling in number the lobes of the corolla, and opposite to them ; ovary 1 -celled ; 

 style 1 ; stigma capitate ; capsule 1 -celled, opening with valves ; seeds 

 numerous, attached to a central column. The order consists of herbaceous 

 plants, chiefly inhabitants of the colder latitudes. It contributes to our 

 fields and meadows some of the loveliest of wild-flowers, as it includes the 

 Primrose, Cowslip, Pimpernel, and Water-violet ; while to it the garden owes 

 some of its earliest blossoms, as the Auricula, Polyanthus, and Cyclamen. 

 The economical uses, however, of the species are of small importance, and 

 somewhat of acridity exists in the roots of the Cyclamen and the flowers of 

 the Pimpernel. 



1. Water-violet (Hottonia). — Calyx 5-cleft, almost to the base ; corolla 

 salver-shaped, with a short tube ; stamens 5 ; capsule ojTening with 5 teeth. 

 Named after Professor Hotton, of Leyclen. 



2. Primrose (Primula). — Calyx tubular, 5-cleft; corolla salver or funnel 

 shaped, with a long cylindrical tube ; stamens 5, enclosed Avithin the tube of 

 the corolla ; capsule 5-valved, with ten teeth. Name from the Latin primus, 

 first, from its early bloom. 



3. Sow-bread (Cyclamen). — Calyx bell-shaped, cleft half-way down into 5 

 segments ; corolla wheel-shaped, the lobes reflexed ; stamens 5 ; capsule open- 

 ing with 5 teeth. Name from the Greek hjldos, a circle, from the spiral form 

 of the fruit-stalks. 



4. Sea Milkwort (Glaux). — Calyx bell-shaped, coloured, of 1 piece, 

 5-lobed; corolla none ; stamens 5; capsule 5-valved, with 5 — 10 seeds. Name 

 in Greek denoting the sea-green colour of the leaves. 



5. Chickweed Winter-green (7Vi>?i/((/«).— Calyx 7-cleft to the base ; 

 corolla wheel-shaped ; stamens 7 ; capsule opening with valves. Name of 

 doubtful origin. 



6. Loosestrife (Lysimdchia). — Calyx 5-cleft to the base ; corolla wheel- 

 shaped ; stamens 5, not hairy ; capsule opening by valves. Name said to be 

 from King Lysimachus. 



7. Pimpernel (Anagdllis). — Calyx 5-cleft to the l^ase ; corolla wheel- 

 shaped ; stamens 5, hairy ; capsule splitting all round. Name from aiia, 

 again, and agallo, to adorn, from its adorning the wayside every spring. 



8. Chaff-weed (Cenblnculus). — Calyx 5-cleft to the base; corolla with an 

 inflated tube ; stamens 4 ; capsule splitting all round. Name said to have 

 been given anciently to the nearly-allied genus Pimpernel, and supposed to 

 be derived from cenfo, patchwork, from the way in which it covers the 

 ground. 



9. Brookweed (Sdmolus). — Calyx 5-cleft, adhering to the lower half of 



