Primulaceae. 215 



tentrionalis, besides being a hapaxanthic winter-annual, may 

 sometimes be seen to flower during the same year as germina- 

 tion has taken place (this is also the case with such plants 

 as Draba cerna) ; according to Sylvén it sometimes attains to 

 poUacanthic growth. The plant seems thus to be somewhat 

 variable as regards its growth-form. (Therophyte - Hemi- 

 cryptophyte.) 



B. Flower Biology. The nature of my material has 

 prevented me from ascertaining, whether the inflorescence is 

 formed during the year previous to its development, which is 

 the case with numerous Arctic plants. According to Kjellman 

 this takes place with Pr. nivalis (Arctic Siberia) and the same 

 is most probably the case with the other Primula species 

 described here, and perhaps also with Dodecatheon frigidum. 



The Primula species, Dodecatheon frigidum and Andro- 

 saces chamaejasme have quite conspicuous flowers, those of 

 Androsaces septentrionalis being less so. As to the colour of the 

 corolla, this is reddish-violet to purple in Pr. nivalis and Dode- 

 catheon frigidum, while Pr. egaliksensis, Pr. sibirica, Pr.stricta 

 and Pr. farinosa v. groenlandica have a light purple to almost 

 white corolla-limb with yellow throat-scales. The Androsaces 

 species have white corollas with yellow throat-scales, but in 

 Andros.chamaej. a change of colour takes place after fertili- 

 sation, the corolla then assuming a hght purple colour. The 

 uppermost flat part of the ovary serves as a nectary in the 

 two species of Androsaces. The alpine Primulas, amongst 

 others Pr. farin., secrete honey from the wall of the ovary 

 according H. Müller, but whether this is the case with the 

 Arctic species, must remain an open question for the present. 



Pr. stricta has a strong unpleasant scent. 



As to dimorphism of the flowers, it can be stated, that 

 Pr. sibirica appears to have a characteristic dimorphic hetero- 

 styled flower, with a very perceptible difference in size 



