488 txxviii. PRiMDLACE^ (oliver). [Frimula. 



Capsule circumsciss. 



Flowers 5-merous 4. Anagaixis. 



Flowers 4-merous 5. Centuncxtltjs. 



Corolla imbricate. Ovary adherent 6. Samolxjs. 



1. PRIMULA, Linn. ; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant, ii. p. 631. 



Calyx campanulate or tubular, 5-lobed, persistent. Corolla hypo- 

 gynous, hjpocrateriform. Stamens included. Ovary multiovulate ; 

 style slender ; stigma capitate. Capsule globose, 5-valved, with en- 

 tire or bifid valves. — Perennial herbs, with radical rosulate leaves and 

 whorled (or umbellate, rarely solitary), white rose purple or yellow 

 flowers. 



A considerable genus, especially of Alpine and sub-Alpine regions of the Northern 

 Hemisphere in the Old World. 



1. P. verticillata, Forsh. Fl. ^gypt.-Arah. p. 42. Leaves obo- 

 vate-spathulate or oblanceolate, usually acute or broadly pointed, 

 narrowed into a rather long more or less alate petiole, unequally 

 dentate- seiTate, glabrous above, more or less farinose at least at first 

 beneath, with the petiole from 2 to 8 in. long. Scape erect, ^1 ft. or 

 taller, usually with 2-3 involucrate whorls of pedicellate pale yellow 

 flowers ; bracts of involucre sessile, lanceolate, elliptical or obovate, 

 acute, unequally serrate or dentate, usually equalling or exceeding the 

 pedicels. Calyx campanulate, 5-fid, mealy or glabrous ; segments 

 lanceolate or ovate- lanceolate, entire or toothed, 2-5 times shorter than 

 the slender tube of the hypocrateriform corolla. — P. Boveana, Decaisne ; 

 DC. Prodr. viii. p. 35 ; P. simensis, Hochst. in Hb. Schimp. Abyss. ; 

 Jaub. et Spach. 111. PI. Or. v. t. 440 ; Bot. Mag. t. 6042. Dr. Schwein: 

 furth distinguishes two varieties (Beitr. Fl. ^thiop. 86) a.farinosa^ 

 farinose, with smaller leaves, and /3. simensis, nearly or quite destitute 

 of meal and with the leaves equalling the scape. 



ITile liand. Ahyaainm, Sckimpcr .' Quartin- Dillon aiid Petit ! 

 Also in Arabia. 



A A-ariable plant in dimensions, relative length of corolla, form of calyx-lobes, and 

 farinose investment. 



2. ARDISIANDEA, Hook. fil. ; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant, ii. 



p. 633. 



Calyx 5-partite ; segments ovate or ovate-lanceolate, acute. Corolla 

 about equalling or scarcely exceeding the calyx, campanulate, 5-tid ; 

 segments obtuse. Stamens adnate to base of corolla- tube ; filaments 

 short, subulate ; anthers ovate-lanceolate, apiculate. Ovary globose, 

 multiovulate, free; style slender; stigma capitellate. Capsule in- 

 cluded, dehiscing by 5-8 cartilaginous valves, many-seeded. Embryo 

 transverse. — Creeping herb, thinly pilose, with alternate, petiolate 

 5-6-lobate, incise-dentate, rotundate leaves, and extra- axillary solitary 

 or 2-3-nate pedicellate white flowers. 



Monotypic /ind not known from elsewhere. 



