Primulacece Primula. 



373 



is endless in its variations, though limited to various shades and 

 combinations of purple, red, and yellow. There is a curious 

 variety called the Hose-in-hose, remarkable for the calyx being 

 an almost exact counterpart of the corolla. Another race of 

 cultivated varieties belongs to the Primrose, agreeing with 

 that in having the flower-umbels sessile. The flowers are 

 larger, however, in the so-called typical form, and hence it has 

 received the name grandiftora. The varieties in cultivation are 

 more or less double, and range from nearly pure white, yellow 

 and lilac to deep crimson. 



3. P. Sinensis (fig. 201). Chinese Primrose. This species 

 is almost hardy, or perhaps quite in favoured localities of the 

 South-west. In cultivation it is usually restricted to the 

 conservatory and window, where it forms one of the most 

 attractive objects throughout the Winter. 



4. P. Auricula (tig. 202). Common Auricula. Probably no 

 other Alpine plant has received so much attention from 

 British gardeners as the 



present, having been in cul- 

 tivation for nearly three 

 centuries, and many of the 

 best varieties having been 

 raised in this country. It 

 differs from its nearest allies 

 in having oblong-lanceolate 

 or obovate more or less mi- 

 nutely glandular - toothed 

 fleshy and glaucous mealy 

 leaves. The flowers are 

 normally yellow and some- 

 what velvety, but from the 

 effects of culture they have 

 assumed all the shades of 

 yellow, maroon, and purple, 

 the latter sometimes almost black, and in some there are 

 tints of greyish green or blue, due in part to the presence of 

 a glaucous meal like that on the foliage. The most esteemed 

 varieties combine two or three different tints arranged in 

 concentric circles. They are divided into several groups, 

 according to the disposition of the colours. The English 

 classification includes five variations, namely : 1. Green-edged. 

 2, White-edged. 3. Grey-edged. 4. Selfs ; and 5. Alpines. 



Fig. 202. Primula Auricula. (} nat. size.) 



