PRIMULACEiB. 1 .'> 1 



ol)li(|iu', 5-101)011. Stamens five. Capsule globuhir or ovate-ovoid, 

 oiKiiiii^' at tlio apex by 5 entire or 2-ileft valves. Seeds numerous, 

 anipliitropous. 



Ilcrhs with the leaves generally all in a radical rosette. Scapes 

 simi)le; llowers in terminal umbels, more rarely in whorls. Many of 

 the species of this genus present dimori)hous flowers, some individuals 

 having the anthers in the throat of the corolla, concealing the stigma, 

 while in others the anthers arc situated in the tube, and the stigma is 

 exscrted Upon a longer style. These two forms are shown by Mr. 

 Parwin to be an approach to di(ecioU3 flowers, few seeds being 

 produced from cither class of individuals by themselves. 



The coininonly aocoptoil derivation of the name of this penus of plants is from tho 

 liUtin word Piimiilus, very early, on account of tho species flowering early in the 

 spring. 



Section I.— rniMULASTRrM. Duly. 



Calyx with 5 angles, about as long as the tube of the corolla. 

 Leaves evergreen, rugose, not mealy beneath, Avith revolute margins 

 when young. Bracts of the involucre saccate at the base. 



SPECIES I.-P RIMULA VULGARIS. Umh* 



Plate MCXXIX. 



Eeieh. Ic. Fl. Germ, et Helv. Vol. XVII. Tab. MCI. Figs. 2 and 3. 



BiUol, Fl. Gall, et Gci-m. Exsicc. No. IG5. 



P. veris, y, acaulis, Linn. Sp. Plant, p. '205. 



P. veri-s var. a, Jienth. Handbk. Brit. Bot. cd. ii. p. 302. 



P. acaulis, Jiieq., Kucli, Syn. Fl. Germ, et Helv. ed. ii. p. G73. 



P. grandiflora. Lam. Ditbij. in B.C. Prod. Vol. XVIII. p. 37. Greu. & Oodr. Fl. dc 



Fr. Vol. II. p. 447. Fries. Summ. Veg. Scand. p. 21. 

 P. sylvestris, Scojt. lieich. fil. \. c. p. 35. 



Leaves oblanceolatc, gradually naiTowcd to the base, without a dis- 

 tin(;t petiole, rounded at the apex, irregularly erosc-dcnticulate. Umbel 

 sessile, always (?) destitute of a scape; pedicels many times exceeding 



• I have retained the name P. vulgari.s, by which the Primrose is universally known 

 in this country, though by right of priority of nomenclature there is no doubt it should 

 bear that of P. acaulis, which was applied to it by Linnaeus, who distinguished the form, 

 although considering it as a variety, and not a species. I should have adopted his 

 name had it been generally known by it on the continent. As it is, however, there 

 is no unanimity among continental authore in adopting P. acaulis, so it is better to 

 apply to the Primi-osc the name which British authors agree in calling it, confining 

 myself to a pi-otcst in favour of the priority of Liunicus' name for this species. 



• 3 



