196 History 0/ Primula malacoides, Franchet 



The seed of these three doubles was obtained from a private grower 

 and sown in the autumn of 1916. 



Another break which occurred in 1912 also at Messrs Russell's 

 nursery consisted in the fimbriation of the corolla segments, a variation 

 which has commonly developed in primulas under cultivation (PI. XI, 

 Fig. 13 ; PI. XII, Fig. 4). In the examples seen in 1912 the apical notch 

 still existed, but the lobes of the segment were more or less deeply cut 

 or laciniated and there was also a tendency to the formation of tooth-like 

 projections in the sinuses between the segments. 



This latter tendency is especially noticeable in the forms with narrow 

 segments and wide sinuses (PI. XI, Fig. 15; PI. XII, Fig. 5). 



In some cases only a single segment or one side of a segment of a 

 flower may show fimbriation. 



With fimbriation of the corolla is associated also a fimbriation of the 

 calyx. Normally the calyx bears five simple acute teeth, but where the 

 corolla segments are laciniate the calyx teeth tend to be conspicuously 

 and sharply toothed (PI. XI, Figs. 13 and 14). With the double flowers 

 the calyx is like that of the type. 



Fimbriation and doubling then appear to be two quite independent 

 variations and fundamentally different, though the inception of both is 

 undoubtedly due to cultivation. 



Yet another variation was noticed this same year with regard to the 

 scent of the plants, the foliage of some being almost scentless, while in 

 other cases it was distinctly scented, the odour being like that of pine 

 apples. Attention has also been called to this fact by Dr Mac Watt, 

 who states that the pine-apple scented form is more robust and sets 

 seed freely, while the scentless form has smaller flowers and does not 

 set seed according to his experienced 



Variation in the direction of greater intensity of flower colour has 

 also been marked in P. malacoides ; though the range of variation is 

 not yet so wide as in P. obconica, both lilac and deep mauve forms are 

 common, and a deep pink shade was exhibited by Mr James Box in 

 1914^. This particular form was further distinguished by its vigorous 

 growth. The plant having " stouter stems, a more robust habit, and 

 flowers twice the size of those of the type." The flowers measured 

 2"5 cm. in diameter. This giant form appears to be the result of 

 beneficial cultivation rather than of any hybridisation, the suggestion 

 that Primula Forhesii may have been accidentally crossed with P. 



1 The Garden, January 6, 1912, p. 2. 



'^ Gardener'x Chronicle. March 14, 1914, p. 180, fig. 82. 



