S02 Obdeb 'is.— PRIMULACB^. 



sort of umbel from the top of the stem, 8 — 10' long, inflated between the joints, 

 Flowers small, white, in numerous Terticila, generally 4 in each, subtended by a 

 lanoe-linear bract. Apr., (Fla.), Jn. (Mass.) (H. palustris Ph., neo L.) 



2. PRIM'ULA, L. Peimrose. Aueicula. {Lat. jirimus, Qrst ; be- 

 cause its blossoms appear earliest in spring.) Calyx angular, 5-cleft ; 

 corolla salver-shaped or often rather funnel-shaped, with 5 entire or 

 notched or bifid lobes ; stamens included, filaments very short ; cap- 

 sule ovoid, 5-valved, valves often bifid, opening at the top, oo-seeded. — 

 Herbs (mostly European) with the Ivs. all radical and fls. in an in- 

 volucrate umbel, often showy. 



* Plants native, wild. Corolla salver -form, abruptly spreading Nos. 1, 2 



* Plants exotic, cultivated., (a") 



a Corolla salvcv-form. — Tho lobes abruptly spreading Nos. 8, 4 



a Corolla funnel-form. — Leaves rufous, hairy, toothed Nos. 5, 6 



^Leaves plain, smooth, often entire Nos. 7,8 



1 P. Mistassinica Mx. Z/os. spatulate, dentate or crenate, obtuse or acute, atten- 

 uate at base, green both sides ; invol. 1 — 8-flowered ; bracts 3 times shorter than 

 the pedicels, linear-subulate ; cal. much shorter than the tube of the corolla ; co* 

 salver-form, lobes obcordate. — Shores of Seneca Lake, N. T. (Dr. Sartwell), Lake 

 Willoughby, Vt. and throughout Brit Am. A very deUcate plant, 3 to T high. 

 Leaves about 5, 5—8" by 3 — 4", almost petiolate. Flowers 5'' diam., white. 

 Pedicels 1" in length. 



2 P. farinosa L. /J. Americana, Torr. Bird's-eye Primrose. Lvs. narrow, 

 veiny, elliptic-lanceolate, obtuse, denticulate at apex, attenuate at base, under 

 surface covered with a yellowish-white, farinaceous dust ; invol. farinaceous, 3 — 20- 

 flo wered, shorter than the pedicels ; iracfa long-acuminate ; cal. segments lanceo- 

 late, acute ; cor. salver-form, lobes obcordate, bifid, obtuse. — Shores of Lakes 

 Huron and Superior (Nutt., Houghton), N. to lat. 6G°. Scape 6 — 12' high. 

 Flowers pale purple, yellow in the center. 



3 P. grandifldra Lam. Common Primrose. — Lvs. ohovate, oblong, rugous, 

 viUous beneath, toothed ; umbel radical ; fl. stalks as long as the leaves ; cor. flat, 

 — 2f Native of Europe. An interesting garden plant, esteemed for its early flow- 

 ering, and for its being prolific in variation. In its wild state its flowers are yel- 

 low and single, but by cultivation they Become double, and in the numerous 

 varieties, red, pink, white, orange, purple, &c., and the umbels, in numerous in- 

 stances, are on a scape. Apr. f (P. vulgaris Huds.) 



4 P. purpiirea Eoyl. Lvs. lanceolate, oUme, very smooth, covered leneath 

 with yellowish farina, margin undulate, revolute ; scape thick, glabrous, longer 

 than the leaves ; invol. Qo-flowerod, as long as the pedicels, farinaceous beneath ; 

 cor. segments obovate, obtuse, not emarginato. — Native of the mountains of Na- 

 paul, Asia. Flowers dark purple, f 



5 P. oiBcinalis Jaeq. Cowslip Primrose. Lvs. toothed, rugous, hairy 

 beneath ; umbels many-flowered, flowers all nodding ; cal. angular ; cor. concave, 

 — y Native of Britain. Flowers yellow. Plant smells strongly of anise. Leaves 

 are used as a potherb, and are recommended for feeding silk-worms. Its varie- 

 ties may bo increased by raising from the seed. Jn. \ (P. veris Cam.) 



6 P. elatior Jacq. Ox-Lip Primrose. — Lvs. toothed, rugous, hairy on each 

 Bide; umbel many-flowered, -vtiOx ihe outer flowers nodding ; cor. flat. — H Native 

 of Britain. Flowers yellow, scentleiss, in a simple umbel elevated upon a scape a 

 foot high. Apr., May. f ' 



7 P. auricula L. Auricula. Las. obovate, entire or serrate, fleshy ; scape 

 many-flowered, central, as long as the leavfes ; invol. of short leaves ; cal pow- 

 dery. — If Native of the Alps. A well known favorite of the florist. The culti- 

 vated varieties are innumerable, and many of them of exquisite beauty and 

 fragrance. May. \ , 



8 P. calyoiaa Duby. Lvs. lanceolate, thin, smooth, entire, acute, surrounded 

 with a white margin ; invol. 3 — 5-flowered, as long as the pedicels ; cal. tube ven- 

 tricoviS ; cor. lobes obcordate, emarginate. — ^Native of Mts. in Austria. Flowers 

 purple, very beautiful, f 



