PBIMULA 



PBIMBOSE OBDEB 



PEIMULA 605 



toothed or rarely lobed. Flowers in um- 

 bellate or whorled racemes, very rarely 

 solitary. Calyx tubtdar, funnel- or beU- 

 shaped, often inflated or angled, 5 -lobed. 

 Corolla hypogynous, funnel- or salver- 

 shaped, with a short or long tube and 5 

 erect or spreading, entire, toothed, emar- 

 ginate, or 2-cleft lobes. Stamens 5, at- 

 tached to the corolla tube. Ovary superior, 

 round or ovoid. Capsule splitting into 

 5 entire or bifid valves. 



Primroses are found in the temperate 

 parts of the world, about one-third being 

 Himalayan, one-third Chinese and Japan- 

 ese, and the other third spread through 

 Europe, N. Asia and America, one or two 

 on the mountains of Java, and one in the 

 cold regions of S. America. With such a 

 range of distribution, the natural condi- 

 tions under which the various species 

 grow differ considerably. Many of the 

 exotic kinds will flourish under exactly 

 similar conditions to those of our own 

 beautiful Primrose, but others require 

 different treatment. The conditions most 

 suitable for each one will therefore be 

 found after the description of each. 



General Culture ancL Propagation. — 

 Although the common Primrose and some 

 .of the other species may be increased 

 easily enough by dividing the tufts, it 

 is safer for the majority to be raised 

 from seeds. These should be sown thinly 

 in early autumn, or as soon as folly 

 ripe, in shallow pans, in light sandy 

 soil. They may be very slightly covered, 

 and when the seedlings have become 

 large enough to handle easily, they may 

 be pricked off into similar pans to make 

 more sturdy growth. In the case of 

 choice or rare varieties it is safer to 

 keep them in cold frames in pots plunged 

 in ashes during the winter, keeping a. 

 strict watch for slugs. In spring they 

 may be planted out, pot and all, in the 

 spots most likely to suit them. They can 

 then be taken up again in the event of 

 severe winters and put in cold frames. 

 AVhere certain kinds show a tendency to 

 flower poorly after the first year, they 

 should be treated as biennials. Primroses 

 vary a good deal in size and habit, but 

 they are all charming, and appeal to one's 

 sense of the beautifully modest in the 

 same way as the common form found in 

 our copses, pastures, and hedge-banks. 

 See also the remarks under P. vulgaris 

 (p. 617), the Auricula (p. 618), and the 

 PolyantJma (p. 620). 



P. admontensis (P. ChurchilK). — A 

 natural hybrid between P. Auricula and 

 P. cluaicma, having spoon-shaped ovate, 

 toothed, glandular, hairy leaves. Flowers 

 in May, lilac, with heart-shaped corolla 

 lobes. Calyx coloured, downy. 



Culture Ac. as above. Chalky soil in 

 the rockery. 



P. algida. — A pretty Siberian species 

 with rosettes of oblong spoon-shaped, 

 finely toothed leaves, about 2 in. long, 

 with a broad tapering midrib. Flowers 

 in spring, about | in. across, bright 

 crimson with a yellow eye, about 10-12 

 flowers on the top of a smooth scape 4-6 

 in. long. Petals deeply notched. 



Culture dc. as above. Well-drained 

 corners of the rockery in moist soil. 



P. Allioni. — A very downy species, 

 native of the mountains near Mentone. 

 Leaves obovate or spoon-shaped, sMghtly 

 and irregularly toothed. Flowers in 

 April, about 1 in. across, mauve, with a 

 white eye, solitary or in pairs. 



Culture dc. as above. In sandy soU, 

 in the rock garden. 



P. alp'ma {P. intermedia; P. rhcetica). 

 A beautiful natural hybrid between 

 P. Auricula and P. viscosa. Leaves 

 broadly spoon-shaped or obovate, slightly 

 toothed, with a floury appearance. 

 Flowers in May, large, briUiant violet- 

 purple, several on a flowery scape. 



Culture do. as above. Suitable for the 

 rockery or flower border in sandy soil and 

 leaf-mould. 



P. altaica. — A native of the Altai 

 Mountains, 3-5 in. high. Leaves spoon- 

 shaped, or lance-shaped when young, 

 sinuate-crenate, slightly mealy. Flowers 

 in spring 1 in. or more across, mauve or 

 purple-crimson, with a yellow centre, 

 freely produced.. 



Culture do. as above. A beautiful 

 rock plant in well- drained soil. 



P. amethystina. — A somewhat floury 

 Chinese species, with ovate oblong 

 Daisy-like leaves, having winged petioles. 

 Flowers in June, reddish -purple, 3-6 in 

 an mnbel. CoroUa lobes entire or 

 notched. 



Culture dc. as above. In loamy soil 

 on banks or in the rockery. 



P. Arctotis.— A pretty natural hybrid 

 between P. Auricula and P. viscosa. 

 Leaves broadly spoon-shaped obovate, 

 blunt, toothed, green. Flowers in April, 



