192 PRIMULACE^:. \Primuh. 



ORD. 53. PRIMULACE^E. Vent. Primrose Family. 



Calyx divided, 5, rarely 4-cleft, regular, persistent. Corolla 

 of 1 petal, hypogynous, regular, with the limb in 5, rarely 4, 

 divisions. Stamens inserted upon the corolla, as many as there 

 are calycine segments, and opposite to them. Ovary 1-celled : 

 style 1 : stigma capitate. Capsule valvate, with a free central 

 placenta. Seeds numerous, peltate, albuminose. Embryo in- 

 cluded, parallel with the hilum : radicle with no determinate 

 direction. Herbaceous plants. Leaves usually opposite, either 

 ivhorled or scattered. 



1. CENTUNCULUS. Linn. Chaffweed. 



Calyx 4 or 5-parted. Corolla somewhat urceolate, 4 or 5-cleft, 

 withering. Stamens 4 or 5, filaments beardless. Capsule 

 globose, dehiscing by a transverse incision. Name, it ap- 

 pears, anciently given to the Pimpernel, a genus allied to 

 this, and derived, according to Theis, from Cento, a covering, 

 because it was a little weed that covered the cultivated fields. 



Tetrandria. Monogynia. 



1. C. minimus, Linn. Chaffweed or Bastard Pimpernel. 

 Flowers sessile; corolla without glands at the base. Br. Fl. 1. 

 p. 68. E. Fl. v. i. p. 217. E. Bot. t. 531. 



Moist gravelly places, rare. Marshes at Glengariff. On the 

 Ross Islands, County of Donegal ; Mr. E. Murphy. Coast near 

 Coleraine ; Mr. D. Moore. Fl. June, July. 



2. GLAUX. Linn. Sea-Milkwort. 



Calyx campanulate, 5-cleft, coloured. Corolla none. Stamens 

 5, hypogynous. Stigma capitate. Capsule with one cell 

 and five valves. Seeds attached to a central globose placenta. 

 Embryo straight, lying across the hilum. De Cand. Name 

 from <y\avKLov, given to a plant of a sea-green colour, or be- 

 cause it grew near the sea. Pentandria. Monogynia. 



1. G. maritima, Linn. Sea Milkwort, or Black Saltwort. 

 Br. Fl. 1. p. 109. E. Fl. v. i. p. 336. E. Bot. t. 13. 



Sea-shores, and muddy salt marshes, abundant. Fl. July. 1. 

 Stems 2 5 inches long, stout, branched ; often procumbent. Leaves 

 opposite, ovate, glabrous, fleshy, entire, sessile, small. Flowers sessile, 

 solitary, axillary, rose-coloured, with five, obtuse, spreading lobes 



3. PRIMULA. Linn. Primrose. 



Calyx tubular, 5-toothed. Corolla salver-shaped, its tube cylin- 

 drical, its mouth open. Capsu'e ovate, dehiscing at the apex, 



