PRIMROSE FAMILY 315 



dry, chaffy calyx.— Sea-shores and the tops of mountains ; common. 

 — Fl. April — October. Perennial. 



2. S. plantaginea, a larger, smooth species, with broader, 3 — 5- 

 veined leaves, occurs in Jersey. — Fl. June — August. Perennial. 



Ord. XLVII. PRiMULACEiE. — The Primrose Family 



Herbaceous plants, mostly low-growing, inhabiting principally the 

 colder regions of the Northern Hemisphere, and in lower latitudes 

 ascending to the confines of perpetual snow. The leaves are 

 exstipulate and mostly simple ; the flowers polysymmetric and 

 perfect. The calyx is inferior, except in the Brook weed (Sdmolus), 

 persistent and 5-cleft, or rarely 4-cleft, or in the Chickweed 

 Winter-green (Trientdlis) 7 -cleft ; the corolla of as many lobes as 

 the calyx, but in the Sea-Milkwort (Glaux) absent. The stamens 

 equal in number the lobes of the corolla, and are opposite to 

 them : the syncarpous ovary is i-chambered with a free central 

 placenta and numerous ovules, a single style, and a rounded, un- 

 lobed or, as it is called, "capitate " stigma. Several of our most 

 favourite wild flowers are members of this Order. The Primrose, 

 the name of which is corrupted from primerolles, primerula, or 

 primula, meaning the earliest little flower, is the welcome har- 

 binger of spring ; the Cowslip is scarcely less prized for its rural 

 associations than for its beauty and fragrance; and the Scarlet 

 Pimpernel, or " Poor Man's Weather-glass," is as trusty a herald 

 of summer weather as the Primrose of spring. The Polyanthus, 

 Auricula, and other species of Primula are garden favourites, and 

 several species of Cyclamen are commonly grown in conservatories. 

 The Primuldcece have few medicinal properties of importance : 

 the flowers of the Cowslip are made into a pleasant soporific 

 wine ; and the leaves of the Auricula {Primula Auricula) are used 

 in the Alps as a remedy for coughs. 



1. HoTTONiA. — Calyx inferior, 5-cleft almost to the base; 

 corolla salver-shaped, with a short tube ; capsule with 5 valves 

 cohering at the top. 



2. Primula. — Leaves radical; flowers in umbels; calyx inferior, 

 tubular, 5-cleft ; corolla salver- or funnel-shaped, with a long, 

 cylindrical tube; capsule 5-valved, with 10 teeth. 



■^3. Cyclamen. — Stem a large cprm ; leaves radical ; flowers 

 solitary ; calyx inferior, bell-shaped, 5-cleft ; corolla with a short, 

 bell-shaped tube and reflexed, long, 5-cleft limb ; capsule opening 

 with five teeth. 



4. Lysimachia. — Leaves cauline ; calyx inferior, 5-cleft to the 



