PRIMROSE TRIBE 67 



the capsule, not falling off; corolla salver-shaped, with 5 scales at the mouth 

 of the tube ; stamens 5 ; capsule opening with 5 reflexed teeth. Supposed 

 to be named from the island of Samos, where Valeranclus in the 16th century- 

 gathered the species since called Samolus vaJcrandi. 



1. Water-violet {Hottonw). 



Common Water-violet, or Featherfoil {H. paJusfre). — Flowers 

 whorled, on a long cylindrical stalk ; corolla longer than the calyx ; leaves 

 finely divided ; perennial. This is a very loA^ely, though not a very common 

 inhabitant of our English pools, and it is unknoAvn in those of Scotland. Its 

 pretty feathery leaves, which are all submerged, grow in tufts, only the upper 

 part of the flower-stalk rising above the water. This stands up about four or 

 five inches from its surface, and is surrounded in May and June by large 

 handsome flowers of a lilac and yellow, or pale purple, or sometimes white, hue. 

 The creeping root is composed of white, thread-like fibres, which penetrate 

 deeply into the soft soil. The flowers produce honey, and are of tAvo forms 

 — one with a short style that just reaches to the mouth of the corolla-tube, 

 around Avhich stand the stamens ; the other with the stamens inside the tube 

 and the pistil projecting far out. Like wood-sorrel, henl)it-ncttle, and violet, 

 this species also produces flowers that never open, but which, nevertheless, 

 produce good seed. The seed-vessel, about the size of a pea, splits into five 

 valves, but these remain connected at top and bottom. 



2. Primrose, Oxlip, Cowslip {Primula). 



1. Common Primrose (P. vulgaris). — Leaves oblong, egg-shaped, 

 wrinkled, crenate ; flowers in umbels, as throughout the genus, but in this 

 case the flower-stalk is very short ; calyx tubular, teeth lanceolate, tapering, 

 very acute ; limb of the corolla flat ; perennial. One variety of the common 

 Primrose has a stalked umbel of flowers, and this is the origin of the Polyanthus 

 of our gardens ; while some writers describe the inflorescence of the Common 

 Primrose as a sessile umbel, because if each stalk bearing the solitary flower is 

 traced to the base, all the stalks are seen to grow in an umbelliferous form. 

 To none familiar with Avood or garden need Ave descant on the beauty of 

 the Primrose tufts, Avhich are in spring among their loveliest ornaments. In' 

 April and May Ave may wander among the Avoods or by the hedge-banks 

 secure of finding them, contrasting with the violet and other favourite 

 floAvers. But he Avho loves the Avoods at an earlier season — Avho is not scared 

 by deep-sounding blasts, Avho can find a music in the A'oices of the Avinds and 

 a grace in the motion of the leafless boughs — he may perchance discover, tAvo 

 or three months earlier, a Primrose-bud peeping up from amid the Avithered 

 leaA'es which had sheltered it securely from nipping frosts. Such a rambler 

 Avould probably bethink him of Milton's description, " The rathe Primrose," 

 for though the old Avord " rathe " is hardly so significant in our days as in 

 those of the poet, yet he is reminded that it is the origin of our common AVord 

 " rather," or sooner, and feels how justly it alludes to the Primrose. Linnieus 

 in the imaginative mood Avhich so often characterized his nomenclature, 

 termed these flowers the Prena:. Our old Avriters called the species Pnjinrole, 

 Avhich, like our common name, seems to be a corruption of Prima rosa ; and 



9—2 



