22£ COWSLIP. 



more or less pubescent, of a bright green colour above, lighter 

 beneath, and tapering into a petiole at the base. From the 

 middle of the leaves rise one or two upright scapes, naked, cy- 

 lindrical, somewhat pubescent, about four or five inches in 

 height, terminated by an umbel of sweet-smelling flowers, which 

 are pedicellate, drooping, and furnished with a short subulate 

 bractea at the base of eacK pedicel. The calyx is of a pale 

 yellowish-green colour, permanent, tubular, with five angles 

 and five short and obtuse teeth. The tube of the corolla is 

 as long as the calyx ; the limb concave, with five short 

 lobes of a yellow colour, and marked near the orifice, which 

 is pervious, with five orange-coloured spots*. The five sta- 

 mens have very short filaments, and erect acute anthers in- 

 cluded in the tube. The germen is globose, surmounted by 

 a filiform style and a globose stigma. The capsule is glabrous, 

 ovate-oblong, one-celled, opening at the top with ten acute 

 teeth. The seeds are numerous, brown, wrinkled, attached to 

 a free central placenta. Plate 15, fig. 1, (a) corolla opened to 

 show the pistil and stamens ; (6) the capsule inclosed in the 

 calyx ; (c) the capsule as it opens at maturity ; (d) the same 

 cut perpendicularly to show the central placenta to which the 

 seeds are attached ; (e) seed magnified. 



This favourite flower of spring greets the eye with its elegant 

 blossoms in almost every meadow, pasture, and copse through- 

 out the months of April and May. Though so frequent in 

 England, especially in a clayey soil, it is very rare in Scotland, 

 and is only found about Edinburgh and Glasgow. 



The generic name is very appropriately derived from primus, 

 first, on account of the early appearance of the flowers. Cows- 

 lip, cuj"lippe in Saxon, probably owes its name to its growing 

 in pastures where it often meets the cow's lip-f*. 



Thus, in "Pan's Anniversary," 



" Strew, strew the glad and smiling ground 

 With every flower, yet not confound. 

 The primrose drop, — the Spring's own spouse, 

 Bright days-eyes, and the lips of cows." — Ben Jonson.. 



* The corolla dried either with or without heat, invariably changes to 

 green. 



f It has also been called Paigles and Palsey-wort, the latter being a 

 synonynie of Herba Paralysis, in allusion to its medicinal qualities. 



