208 



PRIMULA. 



Flowers, in spring and early summer ; 

 rose, from 1 to 3 on stems 2 or 3 in. 

 high, often so large as to hide the 

 foliage ; corolla deeply lobed ; tube 

 longer than the calyx. Leaves, elliptic 

 or oblong, entire, smooth, shining, 

 ciliate at the edge ; margin of leaves 

 and flower-stem villous. European 



Mountains. The rock-garden, in 



moist, fibry loam ; also in pots. Di- 

 vision and seed. 



Primula involucrata (Creamy Prim- 

 rose). A distinct and easily grown 

 kind, 5 to 7 in. high. Flowers, in 

 spring ; of a creamy white, with a 

 yellowish eye ; lobes of the corolla 

 roundish. Leaves, erect, oblong-lan- 

 ceolate, of a bright green, narrowed 

 into the leaf-stalk, disposed somewhat 

 in the form of a rosette ; stem sur- 

 rounded near the top by a membra- 

 nous, much-divided involucrum under 



the umbel of flowers. Nepaul. 



Moist spots in the rock-garden or bog. 

 bed, in peat. This kind thrives freely 

 in pots, plunged half way in water. 

 Division. 



Primula japonica (Japan Primrose). 

 A noble species recently introduced 

 from Japan. Flowers, in May ; deep 

 crimson-rose with a wall-flower co- 

 loured ring round the mouth of the 

 tube, arranged in whorls, many flowers 

 in each, and from 3 to 6 whorls on a 

 firm straight stem, from 12 to 20 in. 

 high. Leaves, oval, obtuse, attenuated 

 at the base, 6 to 10 in. long, and 3 to 

 44 in. broad, thickly but somewhat 

 irregularly toothed, hairless ; midribs 

 of leaves broad, succulent ; veins very 



prominent below. Japan. In the 



rock-garden, not among minute alpine 

 species, but grouped with subjects 

 growing a foot high or more, and in 

 sheltered positions where its fine 

 foliage would not be injured by harsh 

 winds ; also on warm sheltered bor- 

 ders and among dwarf shrubs, in 



sandy loam and leaf -mould, 

 and division. 



Seed, 



Primula latifolia (Broad-leaved P.) 

 A stout and handsome species, with 

 from 1 to 20 flowers in an umbel, less 

 viscid, larger, and more robust than 

 P. viscosa ; 4 to 8 in. high. Flowers, 

 in early summer ; violet, throat mealy, 

 calyx also mealy. Leaves, obovate or 

 oblong, sometimes 4 in. long, and 

 nearly 2 in. broad ; serrately toothed 

 from the middle upwards, ciliate, and 

 sprinkled with hairs on both sides. 

 Pyrenees, Alps of Dauphiny, and other 

 mountain chains in Southern Europe. 



The rock-garden, in moist sandy 



loam mixed with leaf -mould ; also in 

 pots, either in frames or plunged in 

 sand in the open air. Division. 



Primula longiflora (Long-flowered P.) 

 Closely allied to the Bird's-eye 

 Primrose, but readily distinguished by 

 its much longer flowers, which are 

 also of a deeper colour than those of 

 that species ; about 4 in. high . Flowers, 

 in early summer ; purplish with white 

 eye, 5 or 6 in a drooping umbel ; tube 

 of corolla 1 to 1 ^ in. loag, 3 times the 

 length of the calyx ; lobes narrower 

 than in those of P. farinosa. Leaves, 

 oblong or obovate, smooth, slightly 

 crenate, pale but not mealy beneath. 



Mountains of Austria and Italy. 



The rock-garden, in moist places, in 

 free loam. Division and seed. 



Primula marginata (Margined Prim- 

 rose). Readily known by the white 

 margins to its silver-grey leaves, 2 to 

 4 in. high. Flowers, in spring ; violet- 

 rose ; scape many-flowered; throat of 

 corolla mealy; calyx bell-shaped, 

 slightly spreading, mealy within and 

 on the margin. Leaves, oblong or 

 obovate, deeply and unequally toothed, 

 margins silvery from a bed of mealy 

 dust lying on them. Alps of Tauria 

 and Dauphiny. There is a very fine 

 variety known as P. maryinata major. 



