l.'^^O ENGLISH BOTANY. 



gibbous glands at the base. Stamens 5. Capsule globular, opening by 

 5 valves, which remain adherent at the fcase and at the apex. Seeds 

 anatropous. 



Water 23lants, -with submersed, finely divided leaves, and verticillate 

 lilac or white flowers, disposed in a raceme, the internodes between 

 the whorls cylindrical or inflated. 



The name of this genus of plants was given in honour of Peter Hotton, a famous 

 Dutch botanist, author of some works on medical plants. 



SPECIES I.-HOTTONI A PALUSTRIS. Lirm. 



Plate MCXXVIII. 



Reich. Ic. Fl. Germ, et Helv. Vol. XVII. Tab. MLXXXI. Fig. 3. 

 Billot, Fl. Gall, et Germ. Exsicc. No. 264. 



Leaves pectinate. Flowers pedicellate, in whorls arranged in a 

 raceme at the extremity of a long solitary cylindrical leafless scape. 

 Calyx segments strapshaped, subacute, as long as the tube of the 

 corolla. 



In ditches, ponds, and pits. Rather rare, but widely distributed over 

 England, though scarce in the western counties. Rare in Ireland, and 

 known to occur only in Co. Down. 



England, Ireland. Perennial. Spring, Summer. 



Rootstock creeping or floating, with numerous fibres; with barren 

 stems commonly given out from the point from which the scape springs, 

 at the base of which there is an imperfect rosette of leaves. Leaves 

 all submerged, 1 to 4 inches long, mostly irregularly verticillate ; the 

 segments all in one plane, liiiear, acute. Scapes rising out of the water, 

 9 inches to 2 feet high. Flowers 3 to 8 in a whoi-l. Pedicels longer than 

 the calyx, spreading-ascending in flower, reflexed and recurved in fruit, 

 with short strapshaped bracts at the base. Corolla salvershajied, ^ inch 

 across, pale lilac or pink, witb a yellow eye; segments of the limb 

 obtuse or emarginate. Capsule about the size of a sweet pea seed. 

 Plant pale green: the leaves translucent; upper part of the scape, 

 pedicels, and se^jals clothed with short gland-tipped haii's. 



Water Violet. 



French, Hoitone des inarais. German, Siimf Hoilonle. 



GENUS //.— P R I M U L A. Linn. 



Calyx 5-toothed or 5-cleft, free from the ovary. Corolla deciduous, 

 Falversliapcd ; tube elongated; limb flat or concave, sometimes slightly 



