Primula.] XLV1. FRIMULACE^. 289 



Leaves rather large, wrinkled, light green. Lobes of the corolla 



slightly notched 1. P. verb. 



Peduncles apparently radical, and 1-flowered .... Far. a. Primrose. 

 Peduncles bearing an umbel of several flowers. 



Limb of the corolla small and concave Par. b. Cowslip. 



Limb of the corolla broad and flat Far. c. Oxlip. 



Leaves small, not wrinkled, covered underneath as well as the calyx 



with a white meal. Corolla small, the lobes deeply notched. . 2. P. farinosa. 



1. P. veris, Linn. (figs. 650, 651). Stock perennial and tufted. 

 Leaves ovate or oblong, usually about 3 inches long, of a pale green, 

 slightly toothed and much wrinkled. Calyx tubular, half an inch or 

 rather more in length. Corolla usually yellow or straw-coloured ; the 

 tube nearly as long or longer than the calyx ; the limb deeply 5-lobed, 

 each lobe shortly notched. Stamens included in the tube. 



In meadows, open woods, and hedge-banks, in Europe and Russian 

 Asia. Fl. spring. It occurs commonly in three different forms, originally 

 united by Linnaeus under one botanical species, but since his days con- 

 sidered by most botanists as so many distinct and constant species, 

 although more recent investigation has shown that Linnaeus's views 

 were correct. The Polyanthuses of our gardens are cultivated varieties 

 of the same species. The three indigenous races [which are supposed 

 to hybridise with one another] are : 



a. The Primrose (P. vulgaris, Huds., P. acaulis, Linn.) (fig. 650). More 

 or less hairy. Peduncles apparently all radical, as long as the leaves, 

 each bearing a single large flower, with a broad flat limb. Calyx-teeth 

 narrow and pointed. If closely examined, the peduncles will, however, 

 be seen really to spring from an umbel, of which the common stalk is 

 so short as to be concealed by the base of the leaves. On hedge-banks 

 and in rather open woods ; particularly abundant in Britain, and ex- 

 tends over central Europe and some mountainous districts of southern 

 Europe, wanting in north-eastern Europe, and not recorded from the 

 Altai or from Siberia. 



b. The Cowslip, or Paigle (P. veris, Linn.) (fig. 651). Not hairy, but 

 often covered with a minute, pale down. Flower-stalks rising above the 

 leaves, bearing an umbel of flowers. Calyx-teeth usually broad and 

 obtuse. Corolla with a concave or cup-shaped limb, very much smaller 

 than in the Primrose, but varying in size. In meadows and pastures, 

 over nearly the whole of Europe and Russian Asia to the Caucasus and 

 Altai, and extending much farther over southern Europe than the other 

 varieties. Not, however, an Arctic plant, and, in Britain, not so 

 common in Scotland as in England. 



c. The Oxlip (P. elatior, Jacq. ), including all the intermediate forms 

 which have the limb of the corolla broader and flatter than in the Cowslip, 

 but the flowers in an umbel raised above the ground, and usually above 

 the leaves, on a common peduncle. Calyx and hairiness partaking 

 sometimes of those of the Primrose, sometimes of the Cowdip. Usually 

 in moister and more luxuriant meadows and pastures than the Cowslip, 

 in less shady situations than the Primrose, but frequently intermixed 

 with either, or with both, and passing gradually into the one or the 

 other. Geographical range nearly that of the Cowslip, but much less 

 abundant, except in some parts of central Europe. It is now generally 

 believed that there is a distinct species, P. elatior, Jacq. , closely resembling 

 the hybrid Oxlip, but differing in the more villous calyx, paler flowers, 



T 



