214 FORREST—PRIMULACEZ& FROM WESTERN 
formed of them a sub-genus of Primula, which Pax and 
Knuth, in their recent monograph of the order, retain as a 
section. 
Each of the species mentioned has a distinct beauty of its 
That with the largest flowers is P. Franchettz, Its blooms— 
solitary, as in all known species of the section—are fully two inches 
in length, and the expanded limb is almost two inches across, of 
a deep rich violet shading into the yellowish corolla-base. 
P. Delavayi somewhat resembles the above, but is not nearly 
so imposing a plant, being smaller in every way, the deep 
fringing of the ruddy purple corolla segments being its con- 
spicuous feature. 
Both these species are generally found growing as solitary 
specimens in scattered groups. 
- P. vincaeflora is, in my opinion, as seen growing, the finest of 
the three. It is a much taller plant than the others, some 
specimens attaining a height of 14 inches or even more. Also, — 
it grows in masses of 20 to 30 plants, a feature which enhances 
its beauty, and which I have never noted in the others. The 
flowers are of a deep indigo purple, the tube narrowly cylin- 
drical, yellowish at base, the limb very widely spread, with the 
three upper lobes reflexed on the tube. This last peculiar 
character is not noticeable in dried specimens, and, probably 
for this reason, Franchet has not remarked on it in his descrip- 
tion. Nevertheless it is quite constant, and is shown most per- 
fectly in photographs of the species zz stu taken by me. 
None of the many primulas I have seen can compare in beauty 
with this unique plant growing in its natural habitat, which is 
sheltered grassy openings in pine forests at an altitude of 
10,000-11,000 ft. I should say it will prove perfectly hardy in 
this country, and will indeed be an acquisition. 
The other two species I have mentioned grow at a greater alti- 
tude, generally from 12,000-13,000 feet, in moist and rocky, 
but not boggy, meadows, all three being commonly on chalky 
or limy soil. 
It is interesting to note that the only other known species in 
the section is P. Elwesiana, from the Sikkim- Himalaya, The 
flora of the extension of the Himalaya mountains from that 
