482 LXXXVII. PRIMULACE2E. (J. D. Hooker.) [Primula. 



ORDER LXXXVII. FRXBXUX.ACXU&. (By J. D. Hooker.) 



Perennial, rarely annual herbs. Leaves all radical, or if cauline opposite 

 alternate or whorled, exstipulate. Flowers hermaphrodite, regular. Calyx 

 inferior (except Samolus), 5- rarely 4-9-cleft. Corolla hypogynous (except 

 Samolus, in Glaux), rotate hell- or funnel-shaped 6- rarely 4-9-cleft. 

 Stamens on the corolla-tube, opposite its lobes (hypogynous in Glaux}, with 

 sometimes alternating staminodes, filaments usually short ; anthers 2-celled, 

 dehiscing longitudinally. Ovary 1-celled ; style shorter long, stigma undivided ; 

 ovules many, usually amphitropous on a free central placenta. Capsule dehiscing 

 transversely or by valves, few or many-seeded. Seeds minute, usually angular, 

 often sunk in the placenta, albumen fleshy or horny , embryo transverse. 

 Species about 80, chiefly N. temperate and alpine. 



TRIBE I. Frimuleae. Corolla-lobes imbricate. Ovary superior. 

 * Capsule dehiscing by valves. 



Corolla salver- or funnel-shaped, tube long. Stamens on the corolla- 

 tube, anthers obtuse 1. PJRIMULA. 



Corolla salver-shaped or almost rotate, tube very short. Stamens 



on the corolla-tube, anthers obtuse 2. ANDROSACE. 



Corolla funnel-shaped. Stamens at the base of the corolla, anthers 



acuminate . , 3. COKTUSA. 



** 



Capsule circumsciss at the top. 

 Corolla 7-lobed 4. BRYOCABPUM. 



TRIBE II. Lysimachieae. Corolla-lobes contorted. Ovary superior. 

 * Ccpsule dehiscing by valves. 



Corolla 5-6-cleft 5. LTSIMACHIA. 



Corolla 6. GIAUX. 



** Capsule circumsciss. 



Corolla 5-partite, exceeding the calyx 7. ANAGALLIS. 



Corolla 4-5-lobed, shorter than the calyx 8. CENTUNCULUS. 



TRIBE III. Samoleae. Corolla-lobes imbricate. Ovary ^-inferior. 

 Herbs, leaves alternate 9. SAMOLUS. 



1. PXtXXKUXiA, Linn. 



Perennial scapigerous herbs. Flowers umbelled or whorled, rarely solitary, 

 often dimorphic, one form having the stamens low and stigma high in the corolla- 

 tube, the other having the stamens high and stigma low. Calyx 5-cleft. 

 Corolla funnel- or salver-shaped, throat naked or with folds opposite the lobes 

 (annulate) ; lobes 5, spreading or incurved. Stamens 5, included ; anthers obtuse. 

 Ovary ovoid, obovoid or globose. Capsule globose, oblong or cylindric, 5- 

 valved ; valves simple or 2-fid. Seeds angular or subglobose, peltately attached. 

 Species about 80 ; distribution of the order. 



The natural classification of Primula is a difficult task, owing to the great varia- 

 bility of all the organs. I quite believe that various of the Himalayan species are 

 but highly developed states of European and N. Asiatic ones, but to demonstrate this 

 it would be necessary to compare living specimens. Of the two natural divisions of 



