422 PRIMULA. [CLASS v. ORDER i. 



on short filaments. Style as loiig as the stamens. Stigma ohluse 

 Capsule globose, opening with five teeth. Seeds numerous. 



Habitat. Groves and shady places, a doubtful native; Bramfield, 

 Suffolk. D. E. Davy, Esq. Sandhurst Green. Mr. Christy. And 

 Goudhurst, Kent. Mr. Borrer. 



Perennial ; flowering in April. 



The common name of Sow-bread, by which this plant is known, 

 appears to have arisen from the circumstance of its tubers being much 

 sought after by swine. In the Island of Sicily it forms a considerable 

 portion of the food of the wild boars, although it possesses acrid and 

 stimulating properties. ft has been thought useful in schirrous 

 affections, the fresh root being scraped into a pulp, and applied exter- 

 nally as a poultice ; taken internally, its action is that of a drastic 

 purgative, which is said to procure abortion, and is for that purpose 

 taken, but is a very doubtful and dangerous medicine. " Jerarde be- 

 lieved that merely stepping over this herb caused abortion, and very 

 prudently guarded it in his garden with sticks." Its acrid principle 

 is thought to be of a peculiar character, and is named arthanitine. 



No gardener considers his flower borders well stocked with early 

 flowr :ing plants, unless this forms a part ; it is one of the earliest to 

 put out its tender bud, and expand its fair bJoom, gracefully pendant 

 on its slender stem, amid its shining leaves of varied hues, which at all 

 times are highly ornamental. Several species of this genus are culti- 

 vated for the greenhouse, and, by careful management, a regular 

 succession of the flowers may be had all the year round. 



It is frequent in the woods and shady places in various parts of 

 Italy ; and so profuse in some districts about Pisa, as to give the surface 

 of the ground an apparent clothing, at a short distance, of a delicate 

 pink tissue. 



GENUS XII. PRIMITLA. LINN. Primrose. 

 Nat. Ord. PRIMULA 'CEJE. VENT. 



GEN. CHAR. Calyx tubular, five toothed. Corolla salver-shaped, or 

 funnel-shaped. The tube about the length of the calyx, cylindri- 

 cal, dilated at the orifice. The limb of five lobes. Capsule ovate, 

 opening with five or ten valves. Name from Primulus, the 

 beginning, on account of the early appearance of the flowers in 

 Spring. 



1 . P. vulga'ris, Huds. (Fig. 322.) common Primrose. Leaves oblong, 

 ovate, narrowing at the base, wrinkled, irregularly toothed, scape 

 single flowered ; limb of the corolla flat. 



