PRIMULA. 



species being then robustly perennial as in the group of P. denticulate 

 itself. 



P. hirsuta, All., has no doubt at all about its name. It is quite 

 definitely and finally described by Allioni as P. hirsuta in 1785, so that 

 Villars's subsequent name of P. viscosa. 1787, was obviously invalid 

 from the beginning (see note on P. viscosa, All.). However, though 

 the arch-breeder of confusion in catalogues, this most generall} 7 known 

 and grown of the Erythrodose section is one of the most precious of 

 its race in the garden. It is a variable species, and not only have 

 varieties been accorded specific rank, but synonyms have been multi- 

 plied and advertised with reckless prodigality. The following names 

 must henceforward be discarded absolutely from all serious lists and 

 catalogues : P. ciliata (Schrank), P. pubescens (Loiseleur), P. decora 

 (Sims), P. conjinis (Schott), P. decipiens (Stein). All these appear 

 too often in catalogues, and all are to be reduced to the single name of 

 P. hirsuta. The type is easily recognisable by its very broadly- 

 ovate or rhomboidal leaves, always obtuse, always more or less 

 dentate, always narrowing sharply to a longer or shorter petiole, and 

 clothed in yellow, tawny or golden fur, which only rarely deepens to 

 red. The plant is viscid, and the flower-scape rarely rises at all, and 

 never rises much, above the leaves. The height of the whole growth 

 is from 2 to 4 inches at the most. The umbels are many-flowered, 

 the corolla-tube long, the blossoms bright pink or mauve, occasionally 

 white, very large and brilliant and beautiful at their best. 



This species has been for centuries in cultivation, is the most robust 

 of the section, and the widest in distribution. It occasionally occurs 

 on limestone (as, quite starveling, in crevices of the Grigna), but prefers 

 granitic formations, and ranges through all the central alpine chain, 

 on rocks and moorland ridges of the primary formations, from the 

 Pyrenees, through the Graian, Bernese, Valaisan, Rhaetian, South 

 Tyrolese, Austrian, and Dolomite Alps. Its varieties are not to be 

 clearly distinguished ; P. hirsuta angustata hails from the Maloja, 

 and has narrower leaves ; exscapa is stemless ; nivea is an albino, 

 and is the correct name of " P. nivalis." I do not know if the genuine 

 P. hirsuta nivea is now obtainable ; and the many things sold under 

 the name of P. " viscosa " are very often clearly of mixed parentage. 

 P. "viscosa" Mrs. J. II. Wilson, & beautiful, vigorous, and most free- 

 blooming treasure with rich purple-lilac flowers, seems to be certainly 

 a P. pubeecens, and the same must be said of the lurid-scarlet and 

 dark-violet forms, P. hirsuta {ciliata) coccinea and purpurea, as well, 

 I think, as of P. hirsuta purpurea and eximia, &c, and many another 

 named colour-variety. Bui P. hirsuta is so free a seed-bearer, in fact, 



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