OBSERVATIONS ON INDIAN PRIMULAS 



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separate from P. sikkimensis, P. elongata, and even P. reticulata, as 

 from P. purpurea. In fact, if the foliage only be examined, to the 

 list of species separable with difficulty from P. Stuartii would have 

 to be added P. Traillii and P. prolifera. P. Traillii has pale blue 

 flowers, P. purpurea purple flowers, but all the others have lemon-yellow 

 flowers, and even P. obtusifolia has both purple and yellow flowers. 

 Indeed, luxuriant specimens of the yellow-flowered condition of P. obtusi- 

 folia can with difficulty be separated from the Stuartii- sikkimensis series. 

 The yellow-flowered Primroses of India constitute, therefore, a most per- 

 plexingly difficult group. In fact, they can alone be isolated one from 

 the other by relative qualities. 



P. purpurea, Eoyle. Leaves obovate-spathulate, almost entire. Flowers 

 purple, forming compact umbels ; capsules often twice the length of the 

 calyx. Found on exposed hillsides, seeking the shade of overhanging 

 banks and preferring rich mouldy soils. Duthie collected in Hazara a 

 yellow-flowered form of this plant which is very different from P. 

 Stuartii and has the protruding capsules of P. purpurea. 



P. Stuartii, Wall. Differs from purpurea in the leaves being 

 minutely serrate. It is usually found in much wetter situations, pre- 

 ferring in fact, like P. sikkimensis and P. prolifera, watercourses. 

 Flowers lemon-yellow on long spreading pedicels ; capsules the length of 

 the calyx. The Cambridge Botanic Gardens are supposed to have grown 

 it in 1887, but their specimen in the Kew Herbarium seems to me to be 

 rather a yellow-flowered form of P. obtusifolia. 



P. sikkimensis, Hook. Leaves tapering into a winged petiole ; 

 coarsely serrate. Fruits globose, shorter than the calyx. Frequents marshy 

 situations. P. serratifolia, Franch., from Yunnan, is probably only 

 a form of P. sikkimensis. 



P. Traillii, sp. nov. Leaves elliptic-spathulate, distinctly wing- 

 petiolate. Flowers verticillate, pale blue ; carpels contained within the 

 calyx. Found under shade of rocks in dry situations at great altitudes. 



P. Inayati, Duthie. A Hazara plant, found at low altitudes (4,500 

 feet), which is possibly intermediate between P. sikkimensis and P. 

 prolifera. The scapes are shorter than the leaves, and the fruits contained 

 within the calyx. 



P. prolifera, Wall. Leaves very large, obovate-spathulate, not 

 petiolate. Flowers small, many, verticillate and yellow ; capsules 

 globose (allied to P. imperialis, but quite distinct). It is found in 

 marshes or on the banks of streams, at altitudes of 8,000 feet. 



P. reticulata, Wall. Leaves with a distinct petiole, bearing an 

 oblong cordate blade ; scape much elongated. Flowers relatively small, 

 yellow. Fruits globose. Found in marshy places. 



It will thus be seen that if the characters that separate P. purpurea 

 from P. Stuartii be not recognised, all the above species (except perhaps 

 P. reticulata, which does not belong to this section) would very possibly 

 have to be treated as varieties of one and the same species. 



Professor Balfour writes me that they have had under cultivation 

 several of these species, and one plant raised in that garden I believe 

 must be accepted as a cross between P. Stuartii and P. sikkimensis. 

 The last-mentioned (P. sikkimensis), he tells me, is best grown as a 



