336 TRANSACTIONS OF THE [Sess. lxxix. 



longi, pilis±minutis glandulosis pubescentes. Bracteae 

 lanceolatae pubescentes, 5 mm. longae. Pedunculi 2-4, 

 brevissimi, bracteis, breviores. Calyx inflatus, infundibuli- 

 formis, pilis minutissimis glandulosis densis puberulus; 

 laciniae latae obtusae vel vix perspicue mucronulatae, 

 3-4 mm. latae et 1^-3 mm. longae. Corollae tubus calycem 

 2-4-plo superans, 2 mm. crassus, pallidus ; limbus violaceo- 

 coeruleus; lobi usque ad J-partem bilobulati lobulis 

 rotundatis. 



"Yunnan, Lao-kouy-chan, near My-le. Coll. Paul Ngueou, 

 26th April 1908. Type in Herb. Bonati, No. 492. 



" Nota. — Species affinis est P. obovatae et P. Listeri. Ab 

 hac specie differt pedicellis multo brevioribus et foliis 

 crassioribus, ab ilia forma foliorum." 



Anyone who compares the figure in Plate LIII with 

 those in other plates included in this paper, showing 

 unnamed forms of P. obconica, Hance, should be able to 

 satisfy himself that the plant named by Knuth is no 

 species. An analysis of the description fails to bring out 

 any tangible character of differentiation of the specimen 

 from the ordinary forms of P. obconica, Hance. When 

 Knuth says " affinis est P. obovatae," I presume he means 

 the Chinese P. obovata (Hemsl.), Pax. The only other 

 plants that have borne the name are the European P. 

 obovata, Huter, a doubtful hybrid (ciliata x tyrolensis), 

 and P. floribunda, Wall., of which P. obovata, Wall., is a 

 synonym. But P. obovata (Hemsl.), Pax, belongs to the 

 section Carolinella of Primula. Not merely leaf -form but 

 flower and fruit characters as well as vestiture separate the 

 P. obovata (Hemsl.), Pax, from Knuth 's plant. Then when 

 Knuth says " affinis est P. Listeri," to what does he refer ? 

 To the P. Listeri in Franchet's sense, or to the restricted 

 P. Listeri of King? From the latter Knuth's plant 

 differs in every way, as comparison of figures attached 

 to this paper shows. To the former it belongs and to 

 the obconica section of it. Much shorter pedicels and 

 thicker leaves are insufficient diagnostic marks by which 

 to segregate a form in the obconico- Listeri alliance, and 

 the story of the articulate hairs as well as the other points 

 mentioned in the specific description would suit admirably 

 the quite typical form of P. obconica, Hance. 



