PRIMULACEJE. 



stigma globular. Capsule cylindrical, as long as the calyx, which 

 invests it closely, of 1 cell, opening with 10 acute parallel teeth. 

 Seeds numerous,, roundish, covering a central, ovate-oblong, un- 

 connected receptacle. Smith. 



789. P. veris Linn, sp.pl. 204. Eng. Bot. t. 5. Fl. Dan. t. 433. 

 Eng. FL i. 271. P. officinalis Jacq. misc. i. 159. FL Lond. t. 15. 

 Meadow and pastures, especially in clayey soil. (Cowslip.) 



Leaves hoary, more finely downy and soft than in either the Primrose 

 or Oxlip, contracted in the middle, so as frequently to become heart- 

 shaped, as it were, with winged footstalks ; their margin wavy, as well 

 as toothed. Flowers numerous, in 1 or more umbels, with small 

 partial bracteas, on downy common stalks much taller than the leaves. 

 Calyx downy. Limb of the corolla much smaller than in the Oxlip, 

 concave, or cup-shaped ; of a deeper yellow on the upper side, with 5 

 orange spots. Smith. The flowers possess well marked sedative 

 properties and make a pleasant soporific wine. 



ANAGALLIS. 



Calyx in 5 deep, spreading, acute, keeled segments, perma- 

 nent. Corolla wheel-shaped ; tube none ; limb nearly flat, in 

 5 deep, roundish-ovate segments, contracted at their base. Fi- 

 laments erect, slender, shorter than the corolla, clothed, in the 

 middle part more especially, with prominent glandular hairs ; 

 anthers heart-shaped. Style thread-shaped ; stigma capitate, 

 or sometimes simple. Capsule globular, of 1 cell, thin and pel- 

 lucid, splitting horizontally into 2 hemispherical valves. Seeds 

 numerous, angular, abrupt, covering a large, central, orbicular, 

 pitted, unconnected receptacle. Smith. 



790. A. arvensis Linn. sp. pi. 211. Eng. Bot. t. 529. FL 

 Lond. t. 12. Eng. Fl.i. 280. Corn-fields and waste places all 

 over Europe. (Pimpernel.) 



Root small. Stem branched from the lower part, often dotted with 

 purple, more or less procumbent, square. Leaves sessile, ovate, many 

 ribbed ; dotted with purple at the back. Flower-stalks angular, longer 

 than the leaves, twisted and recurved after flowering. Segments of the 

 calyx lanceolate, pointed, keeled, membranous at the edges. Corolla 

 bright scarlet, with a violet-coloured mouth, closing at the approach of 

 rain ; its edges finely crenate, or minutely fringed with glands. Stamens 

 purple, hairy, dilated and smooth at the base. Anthers yellow, heart- 

 shaped. Style purple, permanent. Stigma capitate. Capsule pale and 

 transparent, the size of a pea, separating all round, the valves marked 

 with some indications of longitudinal separations, which seldom take 

 effect. Seeds roughish, abrupt externally, each with a central dot. Smith. 

 This has had some reputation in cases of madness. It appears to 

 possess energetic powers, for Orfila destroyed a dog by making him 

 swallow 3 drachms of the extract ; it was found to have inflamed 

 the mucous membrane of the stomach. A similar result was obtained 

 by Grenier. It has been prescribed in epilepsy and dropsy. 



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