SPRING FLOWERS 129 



general mechanism is similar in all three flowers, though differ- 

 ences will be found in the shape and exact relations of some 

 of the parts. 



THE PRIMROSE (Primula vulgaris, Huds.). 



In April and May the rosettes of large leaves, and the pale 

 yellow flowers of the Primrose, are conspicuous on grassy banks 

 and in copses, where the plants often occur in such numbers 

 as to lend a definite character to the landscape. The Primrose 

 is a perennial plant, so that the individuals persist in the same 

 spot year after year, and by branching may form a small cluster 

 of shoots. This branching, which may lead to an increase in 

 number of individuals if the branches become isolated, is more 

 marked in Primroses and their relations grown in rich garden soil. 

 Such cultivated plants will serve for study, but it will be found 

 better to use the smaller plants of the wild Primrose if these 

 can be procured. 



In a plant at the time of flowering (Plate), which has been care- 

 fully dug up and its underground parts washed free from the soil, 

 the rosette of leaves, which was alone apparent above ground, will 

 be found to be borne on a fairly thick underground stem. Further 

 back this bears a number of pink swellings, which comparison with 

 the leaves of the rosette will show to be the bases of the leaves 

 of former seasons. These persistent leaf -bases closely cover the 

 whole stem, and add to the bulk of the plant available for the 

 storage of reserve food material. Numerous thick white roots 

 also arise from the underground stem, and give off finer lateral 

 roots, which extend on all sides through the soil. 



The leaves forming the rosette have persisted since just after 

 the preceding flowering period, when they expanded ; they are 

 now about to wither and to be replaced by a new set. Each 

 leaf has a broad, thick leaf-base, a wide, ill-defined leaf -stalk, which 

 is somewhat concave above and strongly convex below, and a 

 large, oval leaf-blade. The leaf-stalk is continued as the well- 

 marked midrib, which projects on the lower side of the blade and 

 tapers towards the tip of the latter. Lateral veins spring alter- 

 nately to right and left of the midrib, and they and also the finer 



VOL. III. 





