PRIMROSE 69 



part, when the insect next visited a long-styled form, would scarcely 

 fail to come in contact with the stigma at the same level. 



The stigma in the long-styled form is round and rough, and the 



pollen also is small, in. in diameter, whilst in the short-styled 

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form the stigma is smoother and depressed, and the pollen larger, 



10-1 * in. The flowers produce more fertile seed if the pollen of one 

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form is placed on the stigma of the other form than if a flower is 

 pollinated by pollen of the same form, even if from a different plant. 

 The styles of the same form may slightly vary in length, but as a rule 

 the styles are all of the same length. The two forms are not found on 

 the same plant, but there are about equal proportions of each; and 

 long-styled flowers are pollinated with pollen from a short-styled flower, 

 and vice versa. In such a case pollination is termed legitimate, and 

 better and more abundant seed is formed than by self-pollination 

 (which may occur in the absence of insects) in the short-styled form, 

 or illegitimate crossing of 2 short-styled or 2 long-styled forms. 



The capsule consists of 5 carpels and opens by 10 valves, the outer 

 cells contracting, and when dry they are the more resisting; and the seeds, 

 which are numerous, are shaken out when the valves open by the wind. 



The Primrose is a humus-loving plant, growing in humus soil, but 

 is also clay-loving, and needs a clay soil as well. 



The leaves are attacked by Peronospora Candida and Puccinia 

 primula. 



Two beetles, Eusphalerum primula, Otiorhynchus sulcatus, a Thy- 

 sanopterous insect, Thrips primula, and several moths, Nemeobius 

 lucina, Clouded-bordered Brindle (Xylophasia rurea], Lesser Broad- 

 border ( Tryphcena janthina\ Lesser Yellow Underwing (T. orbona), 

 Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing (T.fimbria), Silver Ground Carpet 

 (Melanippe montanata], Polia polymita, visit it. 



Primula, Matthiolus, is from the Latin primus, first, referring to the 

 early flowering, and Primrose from the earlier name Primerole. The 

 second name denotes its common occurrence, i.e. formerly. 



The Primrose is known by several common names: Beef-and- 

 Greens, Butter Rose, Jack-in-Box, Jack-in-the-Green, King-Charles- 

 in-the-Oak, Lady's Frills, Milk Maid, Petty Mullein, Oxlip, Plimrose, 

 Plimrocks, Primet, Primrose, Primorole, St. Peter's Wort, Summeren, 

 Spink, May Spink, Spring Flower, Summerlocks. 



A legend relates how Bertha enticed a child by means of primroses 

 to the door of an enchanted castle, and the " key-flower " touching it 



