Chap. II. HYBRID PEIMULAS. 55 



CHAPTEE II. 



Htbbid Peimulas. 



The Oxlip a hybrid naturally produced between Primula veris and 

 vulgaris — The differences in structure and function between the 

 two parent-species — Effects of crossing long-styled and short-styled 

 Oxlips with one another and with the two forms of both parent- 

 species — Character of the offspring from Oxlips artificially self- 

 fertilised and cross-fertilised in a state of nature — Primula elatior 

 shown to be a distinct species — Hybrids between other heterostyled 

 species of Primula — Supplementary note on spontaneously produced 

 hybrids in the genus Verbasoum. 



The various species of Primula have produced in a 

 state of nature throughout Europe an extraordinary- 

 number of hybrid forms. For instance, Professor 

 Kerner has found no less than twenty-five such forms 

 in the Alps.* The frequent occurrence of hybrids in 

 this genus no doubt has been favoured by most of the 

 species being heterostyled, and consequently requiring 

 cross-fertilisation by insects ; yet in some other genera, 

 species which are not heterostyled and which in some 

 respects appears not well adapted for hybrid-ferti- 

 lisation, have likewise been largely hybridised. In 

 certain districts of England, the common oxlip — a 

 hybrid between the cowslip (P. veris, vel officinalis) 

 and the primrose (P. vulgaris, vel aeaulis) — is fre- 

 quently found, and it occurs occasionally almost every- 



• "DiePrimulaceen-Bistarten," 'Bull. Soc. Bot. de France,' torn. x. 



'Oesterr. Bot. Zeitschrift,' Jahr 1853, p. 178. Also in ' Eevue des 



1875, Nos. 3, 4, and 5. See also Scieuces Nat." 1875, p. 331, 

 Godion on hybrid Primulas in 



