236 COROOAFLOR.^ 



4. Anagallis (Pimpernel). — Calyx 5-cleft to the base ; corolla 

 wheel-shaped ; stamens 5, hairy ; capsule splitting all round. (Name 

 in Greek, denoting that the plant excites pleasure.) 



5. Lysimachia (Loosestrife). — Calyx 5-cleft to the base; corolla 

 wheel-shaped ; stamens 5, not hairy ; capsule opening by valves. 

 (Name in Greek, having the same meaning as the English name.) 



6. Centunculus (Chaffweed). — Calyx 5-cleft to the base ; corolla 

 with an inflated tube ; stamens 4 ; capsule splitting all round. (Name 

 of doubtful etymology.) 



7. Trientalis (Chickweed Winter-green). — Calyx 7-cleft to the 

 base : corolla wheel-shaped ; stamens 7 ; capsule opening with 

 valves. (Name of doubtful etymology.) 



8. Glaux (Sea-mil kwort). — Calyx u; corolla bell-shaped, 5-lobed ; 

 stamens 5 ; capsule 5-valved, with 5-10 seeds. (Name in Greek, 

 denoting the sea-green colour of the foliage.) 



9. Samolus (Brookweed). — Calyx 5-cleft, adhering to the lower 

 half of the capsule, not falling off ; corolla salver-shaped, with 5 

 scales at the mouth of the tube ; stamens 5 ; capsule opening with 

 5 reflexed teeth. (" Named, some say, from the Island of Samos, 

 where Valerandus, a botanist of the i6th century, gathered our 

 Samolus Valerandi." — Sir W. J. Hooker.) 



I. Pkimula {Primrose) 



I. P. vulgaris (Primrose). — Flowers each on a separate stalk ; 

 leaves oblong, egg-shaped. Among the most welcome of spring 

 flowers, and too well known to need any description. The colour of 

 the flower is so peculiar as to have a name of its own ; artists main- 

 tain that primrose-colour is a delicate green ; white, purple, and 

 lilac varieties are not uncommon. Banks and woods ; abundant. 

 — Fl. March to May. Perennial. 



z. P. elatior (Oxlip). — Flowers in a stalked umbel, salver-shaped ; 

 calyx tubular ; leaves egg-shaped, contracted below the middle. 

 Distinguished from the Primrose by its umbellate yellow flowers 

 and by its leaves, which become suddenly broader above the middle, 

 and from the Cowslip by its tubular, not bell-shaped calyx, and flat, 

 not concave, corolla. Woods and pastures ; not common. — 

 Fl. April, May. Perennial. 



3. P. veris (Cowslip, Paigle). — Flowers in a stalked umbel, droop- 

 ing, funnel-shaped ; calyx bell-shaped ; leaves egg-shaped, con- 

 tracted below the middle. Among the many pleasing purposes to 

 which these favourite flowers are applied by children none is prettier 

 than that of making Cowslip Balls. The method, which may not 

 be known to all, is as follows : The umbels are picked off as close 

 as possible to the top of the main stalk, and from fifty to sixty are 



