3 WAYSIDE AND WOODLAND BLOSSOMS. 



forms, and gently thrusting a grass stem into one after the 

 other. 

 The other native species of the genus Primula are : 



The Primrose (P. vulgaris) with inflated calyx and large //<?-yellow corollas on 

 long pedicels. The thick stalk of the cowslip is not developed here, but hidden 

 amid the leaf-stalks. Copses and hedge banks, April and May. 



The Oxlip (P. elatior). Calyx less inflated, corolla pale, like primrose ; pedicels 

 shorter ; thick stalk developed and long like cowslip. Confined to counties of Bed- 

 ford, Cambridge, Suffolk and Essex. Copses and meadows, April and May. 



The Bird's-eye Primrose (P. farinosa). The three former species have wrinkled 

 leaves ; this and the next have not, but theirs are very mealy underneath. Flowers 

 pale purple- lilac with a yellow eye. Bogs and meadows from York northwards. 

 Very rare in Scotland. June and July. Dimorphic like the foregoing. 



The Scottish Primrose (P. scotica). Similar to Bird's-eye, but not half the size, 

 though stouter in proportion. Flowers purple- blue with yellow eye. Not dimorphic. 

 Pastures in Orkney, Caithness and Sutherland, June to September. 



Name from Latin Primuhts, first. 



The Wood Anemone or Windflower (Anemone 

 nemorosa). 



One of the earliest of spring-flowers to greet us in the copse, 

 by the woodside and in upland meadows is this bright-faced 

 flower. Its firm, fleshy, almost woody rootstock creeps just 

 below the surface of the mossy soil, and rapidly sends up its 

 stems with folded leaves and drooping buds, after one or two 

 genial days. 



The Anemones constitute the genus Anemone of the natural 

 ordera Ranunculaceas, and are characterized by having no corolla 

 (petals). Instead, the six sepals (calyx) are coloured in this 

 case a very delicate pink- washed white inside, lightly tinged with 

 purple outside. As a rule the stem bears three leaves, each split 

 up into three leaflets, which are deeply toothed. Flowers from 

 late March till early June. The name is derived from the Greek 

 anemos the wind and was given because it was believed to 

 open its buds only when the winds were blowing. Richard 

 Jefferies, curiously ignoring the meaning of the word, entitled 

 ,1 chapter in one of his earlier works " Wind Anemones." 



