351 THE PRIMROSE FAiriLT. 



2. Mealy Primrose. Primula farinosa, Linn. 

 (Eng. Bot. t. 6.) 



Stock tufted as in the last, but the leaves much smaller, often not an inch 

 long;, glabrous above, and usually covered underneath with a white, mealj, 

 minute down, also observable on the peduncle and calyx, and only disap- 

 pearing on a few verv luxuriant specimens grown in the shade. Peduncle 

 much larger than the leaves, with a compact umbel of small, pale-hlac 

 flowers, with a yellow eye; the lobes of the corolla rather -narrow, and deeply 

 notched. 



In mountain pastures, in all the great mountain-ranges of Europe and 

 Asia, penetrating far into the Arctic regions, and reappearing in Antarctic 

 America. Not uncommon in northern England, and, although more rare in 

 Scotland, it is found even in the exti-eme north, but not recorded from 

 Ireland. Specimens from northern Scotland, with broader leaves, and shorter 

 and broader lobes to the corolla, have been distinguished under the name 

 oi the Scotch P. {P. scotica, Eng. Bot. Suppl. t. 2608). 



III. CVCIiAMEN. CYCLAMEN. 



Perennial, with a globular, tuberous rootstock, and radical leaves, and^ 

 one-flowered peduncles. Calyx 5-lobed. Corolla with a campanulate tube, 

 and 5 lobes closely reflexed over the calyx. Capsule globular, opening in 

 5 valves. 



A very distinct genus, comprising but few species, from southern Europe 

 and western Asia. 



1. Common Cyclamen. Cyclamen enropaeum, Linn. 

 (Eng. Bot. t. 548. C. hedercefoUum, Brit. Fl.) 



Eootstock forming a tuber, varying from g to near 2 inches diameter, 

 according to age and station. Leaves on long stalks, heart-shaped, more or 

 less angular and toothed; often of a purple or violet colour underneath. 

 Peduncles radical, spirally rolled inwards after flowering, so as to bury the 

 capsules in the earth. Flower rather large, white or rose-coloured, fragrant 

 or scentless, drooping from the summit of the peduncle, with the oval or 

 oblong lobes of the corolla turned upwards. 



In woods, on banks, and imder rocks, in southern Europe and western 

 Asia, and, having been long cultivated in flower-gardens, has estabhshed 

 itself in a few localities in southern and eastern England. Fl. autumn. In 

 its native country it varies much in foliage, in the precise shape of the orifice 

 of the tube and of the lobes of the corolla, as well as in the time of flower- 

 ing ; and it is believed that two at least of the supposed species founded upon 

 these differences, have been gathered in England apparently wild. Between 

 ten and twenty forms, mostly varieties of the common C, are in cultivation. 



lY. IiVSIMACHZA. LTSIMACHIA. 



Perennials, with erect or trailing stems, opposite or whorled leaves ; the 

 flowers usually yellow, either sohtary on axillary pedicels or collected in ter- 

 minal racemes or clusters. Calyx deeply 5-cleft. Corolla rotate or campa- 



