Chap. II. THE COMMON OXLIP. 6 1 



all cases, when such results have been obtained, the 

 unprotected cowslips have been crossed by primroses, 

 and the unprotected oxlips by either cowslips or 

 primroses ; for in this latter case we might expect, by 

 the aid of reversion, which notoriously comes into 

 powerful action with hybrids, that the two parent-forms 

 in appearance pure, as well as many intermediate gra- 

 dations, would be occasionally produced. Nevertheless 

 the two following statements offer considerable diffi- 

 culty. The Rev. Prof. Henslow* raised from seeds of a 

 cowslip growing in his garden, various kinds of oxlips 

 and one perfect primrose ; but a statement in the same 

 paper perhaps throws light on this anomalous result. 

 Prof. Henslow had previously transplanted into his 

 garden a cowslip, which completely changed its ap- 

 pearance during the following year, and now resembled 

 an oxlip. Next year again it changed its character, 

 and produced, in addition to the ordinary umbels, a 

 few single-flowered scapes, bearing flowers somewhat 

 smaller and more deeply coloured than those of the 

 common primrose. From what I have myself observed 

 with oxlips, I cannot doubt that this plant was an ox- 

 lip in a highly variable condition, almost like that of 

 the famous Cytisus adami. This presumed oxlip was 

 propagated by ofi'sets, which were planted in different 

 parts of the garden ; and if Prof. Henslow took by 

 mistake seeds from one of these plants, especially if it 

 had been crossed by a primrose, the result would be 

 quite intelligible. Another case is still more difficult 

 to understand : Dr. Herbert f raised, from the seeds of 

 a highly cultivated red cowslip, cowslips, oxlips of 

 various kinds, and a primrose. This case, if accurately 



* Loudons ' Mag. of Nat. Hist.' iii. 1830, p. 409. 

 t ' Transact. Hort. Soo.' iv. p. 19. 



