PEIMULA 



PRIMROSE ORDER 



PEIMULA 615 



Flowers in spring, about 1 in. across, 

 bright rosy-carmine, with a yellow centre, 

 6-10 on stout scapes 4-6 in. high. The 

 variety grandiflora has larger and finer 

 flowers. 



Culture do. as above. Moist loamy 

 soil in sheltered and partially shaded 

 parts of the rockery. It is easily increased 

 by division. 



P. rotundifolia. — A native of the Hima- 

 layas at an elevation of 12,000-14,000 ft. 

 Leaves on stalks 2-3 in. long, with 

 roundish, heart-shaped toothed blades, 

 1-2 in. long. Flowers in June, | in. 

 across, bright rose with a yellow eye, 3-4 

 on a somewhat powdery scape 4-6 in. 

 high. 



Culture dc. as above. Sandy loam in 

 the rookery. 



P. Rusbyi. — A native of New Mexico, 

 with oblong spoon-shaped, finely toothed 

 leaves. Flowers in spring, deep purple 

 with a yellow eye, 6-10 in an umbel on 

 scapes 5-10 in. high. The calyx has 

 mealy white triangular patches running 

 up between the lobes from the base. 



Culture Sc. as above. Eioh, moist, 

 sandy loam in sheltered parts of the 

 rockery. 



P. salisburgensis. — A hybrid between 

 P. glutinosa and P. minima. Leaves 

 wedge-shaped, blunt, with acute triangular 

 teeth towards the top. Flowers in April 

 and May, rather large, reddish-purple, 

 several in a head. 



Culture dc. as above. Moist, peaty 

 soil and moss in the rockery. 



P. sapphirina. — A minute species, 

 native of Sikkim, at an elevation of 13,000- 

 15,000 ft. Leaves obovate spoon-shaped, 

 blunt, toothed, in rosettes about ^ in. 

 across. Flowers in early summer, pale 

 blue or purple, nodding on slender scapes, 

 1-2 in. high. 



Culture do. as above. Several plants 

 should be grown together in patches in 

 well-drained sandy loam and peat in the 

 rockery. 



P. scotica. — A lovely Scottish Prim- 

 rose, 2-4 in. high, perhaps only a distinct 

 variety of the Bird's Eye Primrose (P. 

 farinosa). Leaves obovate, lanoe-shaped, 

 toothed, powdered on both sides. Flowers 

 from June to September, rich purple with 

 a yellow centre, few on an umbel. 



Culture do. as above. Eich, loamy 

 soil at the foot of rookeries, or borders. 



Best treated as a biennial, as it often dis- 

 appears after the second year. For the 

 general treatment of biennials see p. 78. 



P. secundiflora. — A beautiful Chinese 

 species. Leaves papery, covered with 

 golden powder, oblong or ovate-oblong, 

 serrulate, on broadly winged stalks. 

 Flowers in July, intense violet, with 

 broadly obovate, entire corolla lobes. 



Culture dc. as above. Sandy well- 

 drained loam in sheltered parts of the 

 rockery. 



P. septemloba. — A softly downy 

 Chinese species with roimdish, deeply 

 heart-shaped leaves cut into 7 broadly ovate 

 obtuse lobes. Flowers in July, purple, 

 with obovate, slightly notched lojjes. 



Culture dc. as above. Sandy loam 

 and peat in sheltered parts of the rockery 

 or border. 



P. serratifolia. — A smooth Chinese 

 species with thin papery oblong or obovate 

 leaves with long winged stalks. Flowers 

 in June, golden-yellow, 5-10 in an umbel. 



Culture dc. as above. Moist, loamy 

 soil or peat in sheltered positions. 



There is another Primula called serra- 

 tifolia from the Tyrol, a hybrid between 

 P. minima and P. wulfeniana. 



P. sibirica. — A Siberian species about 

 3 in. high, with long-stalked, smooth, 

 obovate wavy leaves. Flowers in May, 

 beU-shaped, red, 3-5 in an umbel. The 

 variety integerrima has quite entire 

 leaves. 



P. finmarchica from Lapland is closely 

 related to P. sibirica, but may be dis- 

 tinguished by its lanoe-shaped leaves and 

 dark lilac blossoms. 



Culture dc. as above. Moist sandy 

 loam and leaf soil in the rockery or 

 border. 



P. Sieboldi (P. amosna). — A beautiful 

 Japanese Primrose, related to P. cortic- 

 soides, 8-12 in. high, with creeping roots 

 and ovate, coarsely, and irregularly 

 toothed and lobed leaves 2-3 in. long, 

 deciduous in winter. Flowers in April 

 and May, 1-2 in. across, deep rose with 

 a white eye, 6-10 in an umbel. A 

 large number of seedling varieties have 

 been obtained from this species. Many 

 of them are very fine, with flowers vary- 

 ing in colour from rose to IQac, lavender, 

 mauve, pale blue &c., to which fancy 

 names, like ' Mauve Beauty ' and 

 ' Lavender Queen,' have been given. 



