PRI'MULA SINEN'SIS. 



CHINESE PRIMROSE. 

 Class, Order. 



PENTANDRIA. MONOGYNIA. 



Natural Order. 



PRIMULACEJE. 



No. 1. 



Primula is derived from the Latin primus, first, 

 from its early flowering; hence its English name 

 also, prime-rose, now contracted to primrose. Si- 

 nensis, from Sinae, the name of an ancient people, 

 who are supposed to have inhabited that part of the 

 Chinese empire now called Cochin China. 



This plant is the Primula praenitens of the Bo- 

 tanical Register ; but as the term Sinensis has not 

 been established for another species, upon autho- 

 rity worth naming, we give it the preference, from 

 its prior adoption. 



The attention of the Horticultural Society was 

 first drawn to this beautiful plant in the year 1819, 

 when a drawing of it was received from John 

 Reeves, Esq., a corresponding member, residing 

 at Canton. A plant, and seeds also, were subse- 

 quently sent off by him to the society ; the former 

 perished during its passage, and the latter did not 

 vegetate. Since that period it has been introduced 

 by Capt. Rawes, and as it possesses beauties so 

 completely distinct from every other primula we 

 know, it is likely to become a distinguished favourite 

 in our gardens. 



