Rev. W. A. Leighton on the Cowslip, Primrose and Oxlip. 165 



exist in the form of the capsule and seeds. Accordingly, having 

 a plant of the Bardfield Oxlip (P. elatior, Jacq.) in my garden, 

 given to me in 1842 by my friend Mr. C. C. Babington of 

 St. John's College, Cambridge, — and also Cowslips (P. veris, 

 Linn.) and Primroses (P. vulgaris, Huds.), transplanted thither 

 from the neighbouring fields, I determined to examine and com- 

 pare the three plants in these particulars ; and I was agreeably 

 surprised to find my conjectures realized. The result of this 

 comparison will be best exhibited by the accompanying drawings 



Primula vulgaris (Huds.). 



Primula elatior (Jacq.). 



Primula veris (Linn.). 



a. Capsule, b. Seed. c. Surface of seed. d. Calyx, 

 of these parts in the three plants, in which the relative propor- 

 tions of each to the other have been carefully preserved. 



The capsule of P. vulgaris is ovate, half the length of the 

 calyx, the seeds globose, their surface elongato-papillose, the style 

 glabrous, the subulate teeth of the calyx straight and meeting 

 together at their apices. 



In P. veris the capsule is elliptical, scarcely half the length of 

 the calyx, the seeds forming round flattened discs, their surface 

 rotundo-papillose, the style hairy, the short triangular teeth of 

 the calyx incurved and converging, but not meeting together at 

 their apices. 



