206 SUB-ALPINE PLANTS 



Primula viscosa Vill. non All. {P. villosa Jacq., P. hirsuta All. non 

 ViU.). 



A variable plant, whose nomenclature is rather involved. Stem 

 2-4 inches high, pubescent-glandular and viscid, like the leaves 

 and calyx. Leaves roundish obovate, suddenly narrowed into a 

 broad foot-stalk, crenate, dentate, very yiscid. Flowers rose or 

 rose-purple, fragrant, in umbels of 3-6, rather large, the tube being 

 twice as long as the calyx. Pedicels longer than the oval in- 

 volucral bracts. Calyx-teeth ovate, obtuse. Capsule shorter than 

 calyx. 



Shady, granitic rocks, and more rarely on limestone, banks, and 

 roots of larch trees, etc., and occasionally on stony pastures, 5000- 

 8500 feet ; common ; descending sometimes to the plains, as, e.g. 

 at Vemayaz in the Rhone Valley and above Lake Maggiore. May 

 to July. 



Distribution. — Tyrol, Switzerland and Western Alps as far south 

 as Provence ; Pyrenees. 



Though this plant is generally known as P. viscosa, under 

 the Vienna Rules of Nomenclature that name should be given to 

 the next species and this should be called P. hirsuta All. 



Primula latifolia Lapeyr. (P. viscosa All. non Vill., P. hirsuta Vill. ■ 

 non All.). 



A stout plant, 6-8 inches high, on a long, robust, cylindrical root- 

 stock, covered with the scales of old leaves. Leaves broadly lanceo- 

 late or oboval, narrowed below into a long stalk, the whole being 

 4-6 inches long, toothed or crenate, pubescent, viscous. Flowers 

 a beautiful purple-violet, not red or pink, fragrant, in umbels of 

 from 3-20, and with unequal pedicels, longer than the involucre, 

 with oval bracts. Calyx-teeth oval, glandular. Corolla-tube 3 

 times length of calyx. Capsule longer than the calyx. Somewhat 

 variable in size and in the shape of the leaves. 



Rocks and cUffs in the high mountains and sub-Alps up to 

 2000 metres ; rather rare. May to July. 



Distribution. — In Switzerland only in Grisons (Engadine and near 

 Poschiavo), Western Alps from Savoy to Provence ; Pyrenees. 



Primula elatior Jacq. Oxlip. 



Somewhat hke the Cowslip, but with primrose or straw-coloured 

 flowers, more erect than in the Cowshp, and somewhat larger, and 

 longer leaves, less conspicuously veined and a duller green. Flowers 

 not scented. Calyx-teeth triangular, acuminate, one -third the 

 length of the calyx-tube. 



Woods and pastures from the plains up to 7000 feet at least ; 

 common. 



It flowers from March to May in the plains, and continues till 

 July in the higher mountains. 



