Primula. 



PRIMULACEjE. 



7 



Group 6. Ovary free (superior), or with only the base coherent with the tube of 

 the calyx, one-celled, with a free central placenta ! Stamens inserted into the 

 regular corolla opposite its lobes. 



Order LXI. PRIMULACEtE. Vent. The Primrose Tribe. 



Calyx 4 - 5-cleft or toothed. Corolla rotate, salver-form or campanulate. 

 Stamens equal in number to and opposite the lobes of the corolla. Style and 

 stigma single. Capsule one-celled, with a fleshy central placenta. Seeds 

 usually numerous and amphitropous (peltate). Embryo straight, in the axis 

 of fleshy albumen. — Herbaceous plants, with alternate, opposite or whorled 

 leaves ; often with naked scapes, and the leaves crowded at the base. 



CONSPECTUS OF THE GENERA. 



§ 1. Capsule opening by valves. Seeds amphitropous. 



1. Primula. Calyx tubular, 5-toothed. Corolla salver-form, with a cylindrical tube. Stamens 5. Stigma globose. 



Capsule opening with ten teeth. 



2. Lysimachia. Calyx 5-parted. Corolla rotate, 5-cleft. Stamens 5. Capsule globose, 5 or 10-valved, few- or many- 



seeded. 



3. Trientalis. Calyx mostly 7-parted. Corolla rotate, about 7-cleft. Stamens 7-8. Capsule globose, 5-valved, 



Seeds few. 



§ 2. Capsule opening transversely all around. Seeds amphitropous. 



4. Anagallis. Calyx 5-parted. Corolla rotate, 5-lobed. Stamens 5 : filaments hairy. Capsule many-seeded. 



§ 3. Capsule opening by valves. Seeds anatropous. 



5. Hottonia. Calyx 5-parted. Corolla salver-form, 5-lobed. Stamens 5. Capsule ovate, acute, 5-valved. 



§ 4. Capsule half inferior, opening by valves. Seeds anatropous. 



6. Samoltjs. Calyx 5-cleft. Corolla rotate, 5-lobed, with 5 perfect stamens opposite the lobes, and 5 scales or abortive 



stamens alternate with them. Capsule 5-toothed. 



§ 1. Primule^, Endl. Capsule opening by valves. Seeds amphitropous. 



1. PRIMULA. Linn. ; Endl. gen. 4199. PRIMROSE. 

 [ From the Latin, primus, first ; many of the species flowering early in the spring.] 



Calyx tubular or somewhat campanulate, 5-toothed. Corolla salver-form, with a cylindrical 

 tube , the orifice open. Stamens 5, not exserted. Stigma capitate. Capsule opening with 

 10 teeth. — Leaves radical. Scape simple. Flowers umbelled, involucrate, for the most 

 part showy. 



1. Primula Mistassinica, Michx. Dwarf Canadian Primrose. 



Leaves obovate-spatulate, sparingly toothed, smooth, or sometimes (with the scape and 

 calyx) powdery ; scape slender, elongated ; umbel few-flowered ; segments of the corolla 



