THE OXLIP. 



Vrhiiiili! chttuir, 



.^U;^ LT HOUGH lb,, primrose, t)ie 

 cowslip, ;iii(l the oxlij) are Ijeyoiul 

 all reasoiialile doulit \-ariati(jns ol' 

 one ivj)i(jal plant, it is cmiveuieiit 

 to follow llie IkkjIvs in rt'^'ardino- 

 them as tliree distinct species. Be- 

 tween the common primrose ami 

 the (jther two there is an (jbvious 

 difference in the disposition of the 

 flowers — those of the lirst a])pearing 

 smg-ly from amongst the leaves ; 

 those of the cowslip and oxlip ap- 

 jiearing in com])aet chisters or 

 umbels on the summit of a com- 

 mon stem which rises aliove the 

 leaves. This difference, thongh ob- 

 vious and a reason for accepted specific distinctions, is 

 after all one of degree only, and not of kind, for when the 

 jirimrose is carefully examined, it will be found that 

 each separate flower is on a long peduncle that springs 

 from a common stalk which is simply too short to be 

 seen until searched for, but is then easily discovered. 

 Liunreus had noted all this, and regarded the three plants 

 as varieties of one common type. But succeeding botanists 



