134 ENGLISH BOTANY. 



prismatic ; teeth about one-third of the length of the tube, triangular- 

 ovate, subol^tuse. Corolla with the limb much narrower across than the 

 length of the tube, saucershaped ; segments quadrate, concave; throat 

 slightly contracted, with 5 folds. Capsule oval-ovoid, much shorter 

 than the calyx-tube. Pubescence of the scape, pedicels, bracts, and 

 calyx of close short rather stiff jointed and often gland-tipped hairs. 



On banks, meadows, pastures, and downs. Rather common, especially 

 in sandy and chalky soils. Generally distributed in England; less fre- 

 quent in Scotland, especially in the west, but reaching north to Aber- 

 deenshire, and occurring even in Caithness and Sutherland. ^Ir. 

 H. C. Watson has a specimen labelled from Orkney, but 1 never met 

 with it there nor heard of its occurrence, and cannot help suspecting 

 that it is not native there. Generally distributed in Ireland. 



England, Scotland, Ireland. Perennial. Spring, early Summer. 



Rootstock resembling that of the primrose. Leaves generally 

 smaller and very different in shape, being suddenly contracted imme- 

 diately below the broadest part. Scapes 4 inches to 1 foot high. 

 Flowers numerous, usually all more or less hanging to one side. 

 Calyx ^ to |- inch long. Limb of the corolla ^ to | inch aci'oss, 

 bright yellow ; segments concave, quadrate-orbicular, notched or 

 obcordate, each with an orange-red mark at the base, and a fold 

 like that observable in the primrose, with a bilobed boss between tlie 

 folds. Fruit pedicels erect. Plant more thickly pubescent than in 

 P. vulgaris, and with the hairs shorter and stifler. In P. vulgaris 

 and P. officinalis some individuals have the stamens apparent at the 

 throat, while in others the style is elongate and the stigma pro- 

 truding. These tAvo forms Mr. Darwin finds to be very imperfectly 

 fertile, unless the pollen of the one form be conveyed to the stigma of 

 the other. 



Cowslip. 

 French, Prhnevere clii priniemps. German, Gehrduchlicher Himmehchliissel. 

 Tliis pretty flower is known in some country districts as the Paigle. Its flowers 

 contain a large quantity of honey, and possess slight narcotic qualities ; properties 

 that have given rise to their use in making the fermented liquor called Cowslip wine. 

 It is quite an occupation during spring time amongst the rural population in the neigh- 

 bourhood of Worcester, to gather the flowers of the Cowslip, and sell them to the great 

 Bi'itish wine-makers of that city. For this purpose the flowers are picked when they 

 are first open, and fermented with sugar and water. When well prepared it is not 

 unpalatable, resembling somewhat some of the swcefc wines of the south of France. 

 The sedative qualities of the plant are suflicient to have procured for it the reputation 

 of an anodyne ; and we find Pope ■writing— 



" For want of i-cst. 

 Lettuce and Cowslip ; probatum est." 



