PRIMULA. 



white-eyed rose-pink blossom is unaltered. In nature P. v'.Uosa, 

 like others of the section, is wholly calcifugo, but in the garden seems 

 indiffeivnt to the presence of lime. It divides into two main types, 

 of which it is to be regretted that either should continue to figure 

 in modern handbooks as a species. P. v. commutata has thinner 

 foliage, still limper, longer, and more often coarsely toothed. The 

 scapes are 5 inches high or so, carrying a head of large bright rosy 

 blossoms ; it may be seen on the porphyry rocks about the castle of 

 Herberstein in Styria. The main form is P. v. Jacquini, Pax (P. 

 Simsii, Sweet.), with broadly obovate or oblong leaves, drawing to a 

 short or minute short leaf-stalk and lightly toothed. The variety 

 P. v. norica, is hardly more than an indistinguishable development 

 with narrower leaves and a less dense coat of fur. 



P. vincaeflora has at last yielded its face to the photographer, so 

 that all is over except the shouting and the seeding. A characteristic 

 of the blossom is the way in which the two upper lobes turn back, so 

 that the whole flower takes on the look of some exaggerated violet 

 or Pinguicula rather than a Periwinkle. Like all this group it wants 

 rich and perfectly-drained soil, flooded with underground water all 

 through the period of its growth, and then turned off hi winter, so 

 that the tight and bulb-like bud into which it dies may rest, like the 

 knop of the dormant Pinguicula that it so faithfully imitates, too, 

 when fully awake, at its other extremity. Then, in spring, come up 

 by fold over fold the small shaggy oval leaves, merging at the base 

 into membranous dusky scales that only gradually begin at last to 

 change their character, until finally the uppermost and largest open 

 out into the rosettes ; and then, if luck and water favour, the single 

 stems arise, each bearing its weird prognathous flower of violet -purple. 

 Having outgrown its youth, P. vincaeflora is perfectly vigorous and 

 free — a most happy surprise. 



P. Viola-grandis. See Appendix. 



P. violodora is an ungrown tender species in the group of P. mollis. 



P. viscosa is offered in catalogues under almost any other name 

 than its own, which has been misappropriated too long for the use of 

 P. hirsuta — an error which has bred much trouble and is yet so 

 gratuitous and the state of the case so simple and beyond dispute 

 that one greatly regrets to find the author of an authoritative modern 

 handbook on Alpine Plants asserting that the nomenclature of 

 P. hirsuta (which he actually still calls P. "viscosa") is "rather 

 involved." Nothing could be further from the facts. P. hirsuta is 

 the name given by Allioni in 1785 to the only species that has now 

 any right to bear it — the dwarf pink-blossomed Erythrodosj Primula 



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