136 ENGLISH BOTANY. 



HYBRID-PRIMULA O P PIC IN ALI-VULG ARI S. 



Plates MCXXXH. MCXXXIH. 



BeicJi. Ic. Fl. Germ, et Helv. Vol. XVII. Tab. MCHI. Fig. 1, and MCU. Fig. 2. 



BUlot, Fl. Gall, et Germ. Exsicc. No. 443. 



P. elatior, Auct. Angl. ante 1842. 



P. brevistyla, B.C. Fl. de Fr. Vol. V. p. 383. Beich. fil. 1. c. p. 35. 



P. variabilis, " GoupO." Gren. & Godr. Fl. do Fr. Vol. U. p. 448. 



P. intricata, Oren. & Godr. Fl. de Fr. Vol. II. p. 449. 



P. Thomasinii, Gren. & Godr. Fl. de Fr. Vol. II. p. 449. Reich, fil. 1. c. p. 35. 



P. vulgaris, /3. caulescens. Bah. Man. Brit. Bot. ed. v. p. 267. HooJc. & Aiti. Brit. FJ. 



ed. viii. p. 345. 

 P. vulgaris, /3. variabilis. Bah. Man. Brit. Bot. ed. vi. p. 277. 



Intermediate between P. vulgaris and P. officinalis, and including a 

 number of forms which at each extremity of the series graduate into 

 the parent plants. The commonest form, Plate mcxxxii. (which re- 

 presents the hybi'id most nearly half-way between the two parents), 

 differs from the P. vulgaris in having the umbel raised on a scape, the 

 pedicels shorter, the calyx-teeth shorter, the corolla limb smaller, more 

 concave and deeper in colour, and with the segments narrower; the 

 pubescence is shorter. From P. officinalis it differs in the leaves being 

 narrower, not suddenly contracted at the base, the flowers are larger, 

 the limb not cupshaped, paler in colour, and with the segments flatter ; 

 the pubescence is longer and more shaggy. 



Rather rare, but generally occurring whenever P. vulgaris and P. 

 officinalis grow together, but never found in districts inhabited by 

 only one of the parents, 



England, Scotland, Ireland. Perennial. Spring. 



Previous to 1842 this hybrid was confounded by British botanists 

 with P. elatior, Jacq., from which it differs in its larger flowers on much 

 longer pedicels, triangular calyx-teeth, and in the limb of the corolla 

 being brighter coloured, more spreading, the segments much bi'oader 

 and rounder, and the throat somewhat contracted with 5 bilobed bosses, 

 as in the primrose and cowslip. 



Another form, Plate Mcxxxiii., presents a much closer approach 

 to P. officinalis, having the calyx-teeth short and deltoid, the leaver 

 more contracted towards the base, and the pubescence shorter and 

 denser. Other forms occur which differ from the primrose only in the 

 flowers being raised on a scape, the corolla smaller, and with the limb 

 less spreading, and the segments narrower and more obovate than in 

 P. vulgaris. 



The cases in which the oxlip is said to have been raised from the 

 seeds of the cowslip or primrose cannot be held to be coiaclusive 



