PRIMULA. 



209 



deeper in colour and larger in all its 

 parts. The rock-garden and bor- 

 ders, in moist sandy loam. Division. 



Primula minima (Fairy Primrose). 

 A most diminutive species, with 

 very large and handsome flowers ; 

 about \k in. high. Flowers, in early 

 summer ; rose-coloured or sometimes 

 white, large for the size of the plant, 

 being often nearly 1 in. across, gene- 

 rally one on each short stem, but occa- 

 sionally two. Leaves, about ^ in. long, 

 smooth and shining, wedge-shaped, 

 nearly square at the ends, stalkless, 

 with 5 or 7 sharp teeth at the top, 

 quite entire at the sides. P. floerkiana 

 is very nearly allied to this, if any- 

 thing more than a variety, differing 

 chiefly by the flower-stems bearing 

 2, 3, or more flowers, and by the leaves 

 being roundish at the ends and toothed 

 down the edges for a short distance. 



Mountains of Southern Europe. 



The rock-garden, in rich moist loam, 

 associated with JEritrichium nanum, 

 lonopsidion acaule, the Bavarian and 

 other small Gentians, and like plants. 

 Division. 



Primula Munroi (Munro's Primrose). 

 Nearly allied to P. involucraf.a ; G to 

 8 in. high, flowers, in spring and 

 early summer ; white with a yellowish 

 eye ; corolla inflated about the middle, 

 and with rounded, two-cleft lobes; 

 calyx oblong, narrowed at the base, 

 with 5 small teeth. Leaves, on long 

 stalks, nearly heart-shaped, obtuse, 

 slightly indented, smooth. Mountains 

 of Nepaul, in the vicinity of water. 



Same treatment, positions, etc., 



as those for P. involucrata. 



Primula nivea (Snowy Primrose). 

 A neat kind, considered by some to be 

 a variety of P. viscosa ; 4 to 6 in. high. 

 flowers, in spring ; pure white, freely 

 produced in large trusses on stems as 

 high again as the leaves ; lobes of 

 corolla obcordate ; involucre small. 

 Leaves, obovate or spathulate, ciliated, 



smooth, flat, sharply and irregularly 

 toothed, rarely entire. Native of the 



Alps. The rock-garden, choice bor 



der, or grown in pots in a cold frame, 

 in light moist soil. Division. 



Primula Palinuri (Large-leaved Prim- 

 rose). A vigorous kind, quite removed 

 from all the other Primulas, inasmuch 

 as it seems to grow all to leaf and 

 stem; 6 to 9 in. high, flowers, in 

 April and May; bright yellow, in 

 a drooping umbel at the top of 

 the powdered stem ; corolla funnel- 

 shaped ; calyx mealy, segments acute. 

 Leaves, broad, spoon-shaped, smooth, 

 sharply and unequally toothed, of a 

 bright pale green, almost as large as 

 those of young cabbages. Native of 



Southern Italy. Borders, in deep 



soil, and also in the rock-garden, but 

 not associated with the dwarf alpine 

 kinds. Division. 



Primula purpurea (Purple Primrose}. 

 Allied to P. denticulata, but more 

 ornamental ; 6 to 10 in. high, flowers, 

 in spring and early summer ; of an 

 exquisite dark purple, in umbels about 



3 in. across ; mouth of the corolla very- 

 much dilated. Leaves, lanceolate, ob- 

 tuse, very smooth, covered underneath 

 with a yellow mealiness, notched and 

 wavy on the margin; leaf -stalk 

 winged, dilated at the base, rough, 

 somewhat sheathing. High mountains 



of Nepaul. Sheltered nooks in the 



rock-garden, at the base of large rocks 

 and stones, in deep loam and leaf- 

 mould. Division. 



Primula scotica (Scotch Bird's-eye P.) 

 An exquisite kind, like the Bird's- 

 eye P., but smaller and neater; 2 to 



4 in. high, flowers, in April or May ; 

 rich purple with yellowish eye; tube 

 of the corolla about equalling the ca- 

 lyx and twice as long as the lobes. 

 Leaves, obovate-lance-shaped, broadest 

 near the middle, shorter and less in- 

 dented than those of P.farinosa ; very- 

 powdery on the underside. In damp 



