32(3 



The Flora of Wiltshire. 



Corolla large, sulphur coloured, sometimes more or less purple 1 or 

 rarely white, with a dark radiating spot in the middle ; their scent 

 agreeable though slight. If the peduncles are traced to their very 

 base, they will be found to spring from one common point and to con- 

 stitute a sessile umbel. The variety in which the umbel is raised on 

 a scape, the pedicel shorter, the calyx-teeth shorter, the corolla-limb 

 smaller, more concave and deeper in colour, with the segments 

 narrower is the P. variabilis Goupil, which is not unfrequently 

 distributed throughout Wilts, generally occuring, whenever P. 

 vulgaris, and P. officinalis grow together, but never found in any of 

 the districts inhabited by one of the parents. This form is often 

 taken for the true Oxlip, P. elatior, Jacquin, found only in the 

 Eastern counties of England, particularly about Bardfield in Essex. 



2. P. veris, (Linn.) common Cowslip, or Paigle. Engl. Bot. t. 5. 

 St. 14, 4. P. officinalis Jacquin. 



Locality. On banks, meadows, pastures, and downs, especially 

 in chalky and clayey soils. P. Fl. April, May. Area, 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 



Generally distributed throughout all the districts. Flower-stalks 

 rising above the leaves, bearing an umbel of flowers. Calyx-teeth 

 usually broad and obtuse. Corolla very much smaller than in the 

 Primrose, but varying in size. Linnaeus considered the Cowslip, 

 Oxlip, and Primrose, as varieties only of the same plant, though 

 most modern Botanists have usually separated and described them as 

 two, and sometimes three distinct species. More recent investiga- 

 tion has shown that Linnaeus's views were correct. The Polyan- 

 thuses of our gardens are cultivated varieties of the same species. 



Hottonia, (Linn.) Water- Ytolet. 

 Linn. 01. v. Ord. i. 



Name. After P. Hotton, Professor in the University of Leyden ; 

 ob. 1709. The English name featherfoil refers to the elegant 



1 This beautiful variety, with, flowers bright purplish-red, I have occasionally 

 found in woods about Kingsdown ( North-west District ) } and sometimes having 

 a petaloid calyx ; this form is well known under the name of P. calycanthemum ; 

 it has a oertain interest as illustrating the theory of morphology, being one of 

 the less common forms of monstrosity. — T. B. F. 



