PRIMULACEyE 38j 



ispheres, which are literally covered with pearl white, 

 sessile flowers, larger than the rosettes they crown. The 

 mass of flowers may at times be so great as to cover 

 completely the foliage, leaving nothing visible but the 

 face of the flowers embroidered on the cushion. Summer ; 

 in chinks of high rocks of the limestone Alps ; 2000- 

 25oo m. 



Jl. pubescens is distinguished by longer and narrower 

 leaves, very downy with star-like hairs, not arranged in 

 cylindric columns but forming a rosette at the end of 

 the branches, thus making the habit less compact; 

 flowers white with a yellow eye. Rock slopes and rock- 

 crevices in the limestone Alps of western Switzerland 

 and Appenzell ; 2OOO-3ooo m. A peculiar differentiation 

 from its kin is a slight swelling on the stem close to the 

 flower. An exquisite variety. 



Jl. imbricata (argentea, tomentosa) is similar to helvetica, 

 except that the leaves are silver-white, the habit more 

 compact and dwarf, the leaves shorter, arched, very 

 dense ; the overlapping flowers smaller, glistening white 

 with yellow centre. July-August. Rocks of the granitic 

 High Alps, growing in places sheltered from rain under 

 the protection of projecting cornices where it worms a 

 way into the most invisible chinks. 



A. glacialis (Jl. pennina, alpina). A delicious cushion 

 of tender rose to be seen springing up in the highest 

 parts of the Alps, especially in the primary formations, 

 and forming at 22OO-3ooo m. the advance-guard of the 

 upper limit of vegetation. It tells of some summit ridge 

 or icy glacier at hand. Even more than in Jl. helvetica 

 do the blossoms huddle themselves close to the surface 

 of the cushion, spreading there an unbroken sheet of 

 glowing colours, white or vivid carmine or intermediary 

 shades according to the variety. They greet, these rosy, 



