OBSERVATIONS ON INDIAN PRIMULAS. 



325 



group further than has been already observed. They have the leaves con- 

 duplicate in vernation. They would appear to be the warm temperate 

 Primulas, and to be more African and Arabian than Indian. In passing it 

 may be observed that in the classification of geographical areas pursued at 

 Kew, a portion of India is placed along with North Africa and the Orient, 

 namely Baluchistan and Afghanistan. That is the very region where the 

 Primulas of this section attain their highest development. P. floribunda 

 occurs in clefts on damp rocks from Kumaon to Simla and Kashmir, at 

 altitudes from 3,500 to 6,000 feet. In its area, however, the altitude is 

 gradually lowered on passing westward, until in the Northern Panjab it 

 occurs almost at the level of the plains. And what is perhaps more sig- 

 nificant still, with the depression of altitude, the plant becomes larger, more 

 robust, quite glabrous, often mealy, and the bracts foliaceous. General 

 Sir J. Macdonald sent me many years ago samples of this plant from 

 the Khyber Pass. These, in my opinion, break down the separation of P. 

 verticillata — the Abyssinian member of this series — from P. floribunda, 

 You are all aware, gentlemen, that a hybrid plant appeared some years 

 ago at Kew, between these two species. This has since been produced by 

 many Primula cultivators, and much has been said regarding the extra- 

 ordinary improvement thereby effected, the hybrid being in some respects 

 superior to either of its ancestors. The leaves are large, glabrous, and 

 copiously coated with white farina. These facts but confirm the observa- 

 tions to which I have endeavoured to invite your attention. The two 

 plants are closely allied : hence hybridisation, in my opinion, becomes 

 natural and easy. And the new form followed the tendency of becoming 

 more luxuriant under altered circumstances, exactly as P. floribunda does 

 naturally in India on passing westward to lower altitudes (conf. fig. 74, a, 

 with b). 



Recently my friend Mr. J. H. Lace made a delightful discovery in 

 Quetta of a new species belonging to the floribunda section which has now 

 been named P. Lacei. This has a suffruticose habit, and frequents shady 

 places in limestone rocks. It is very much more beautiful than any other 

 member of this group, its soft woolly leaves being in themselves very 

 charming, but its flowers are very beautiful. For the size of the plant 

 they are remarkably large, and of a delicate yellow colour. 



I fear I must have trespassed sadly on your patience. But I have 

 endeavoured to bring before your mind's eye a panorama of the Indian 

 Primulas assorted under a new classification. The contention that I 

 have tried all through to impress upon you is not the merits of that 

 classification per se. It doubtless has many defects, but it seems to me 

 to bring together plants that are related to each other. If this be so, we 

 have the key to successful cultivation and to future hybridisation ; for, 

 while I believe anything possible, I am convinced that to be successful 

 hybridisation should advance stage by stage with the closely allied forms 

 before the more remote are attempted. And what is even more important, 

 I am convinced that hybridisation should not only follow the guiding 

 hand of systematic affinity, but be governed by observation of habitats 

 and dispositions. P. Traillii, I have shown you, is structurally related 

 to P. prolifera, but the one grows in the North- West Himalaya in dry 

 soils under the shadow of rocks at altitudes of 15-17,000 feet, and the 



