COWSLIP 



COWSLIP 



Primula officinalis. Primula vhris. 



This is the true Cowslip; a stemless, perennial plant, native to northern 

 and central Europe; long in cultivation. April, May. 



Leaves. — Radical, soft-pubescent, oval or oblong, margin denticulate 

 or erose; petiole winged. 



i^fowew.— Drooping, bright-yellovy, borne in an umbel, on a scape six 

 to twelve inches high. 



Calyx. — A loose tube, five4oothed. 



Corolla. — Funnel-shaped, the lobes concave, forming a shallow cup 

 about three-fourths of an inch across. 



Stamens. — Five, inserted on the corolla-tube. 



Ovary. — Ovoid; style slender; stigma capitate. 



Where the bee sucks there suck I; 

 111 the cowslip's bell I lie, — 

 There I couch: when owls do cry. 

 On the bat's back I do fly 

 After Summer, merrily. 



— "Tempest," Act v, Sc. i, Shakespeare. 



With cowslips wan that hang the pensive head. 



— "Lycidas," Milton. 



Of the five primroses native to England this obtains the com- 

 mon name of Cowslip and as such appears in English poetry The 

 corolla is funnel-shaped and so makes a bell; while the corollas of 

 the other species are salver-shaped and even Ariel would find it 

 difficult to couch therein. Moreover, this is probably the flower 

 that was suggested to the New England colonists by Caltha 

 palustris, so that they named it Cowslip. 



This form rarely appears in American gardens; in fact all the 

 ^ hardy primulas find difficulty in withstanding our summer heat 

 and sunshine without protection, and often that does not avail. 



Primula eldtior, Oxlip, is very like officinalis, but with larger 

 flowers and is a taller plant. Native to the northern and moun- 

 tainous parts of Europe. 



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