PRIMULA CONFERENCE. 



107 



purple. The leaves in glaucescens have a tendency to curl inwards, 

 those of spectabilis backwards. There are two varieties : 



var. calycina, with large leaves and large calyx. 



var. longobarba, with smaller leaves and smaller calyx. 



P. Wulfeniana has a rigid, narrowish, pointed leaf, rarely exceeding 

 2 inches in length. It is intense dark green, non-viscid, and the 

 cartilaginous margin is broad and minutely glandular. In the young 

 state the edges of the leaves have a tendency to curl inwards 

 laterally. The flower scape, about 2 inches high, carries one to three 

 rose-coloured flowers. It is found mainly on the Austrian Alps, where 

 it thrives vigorously and groups itself in spreading tufts. In cultiva- 

 tion its beautiful flowers appear in April. I have found it an easily 

 grown species both on the moraine and in turfy loam. 



P. Clusiana is also a native of the mountains of Austria. In 

 cultivation, and like the others in this subsection, it does full justice 

 to any soil and situation in which it may be placed. Its leaves are 

 much lighter in colour than P. Wulfeniana. They are ovate or oblong, 

 entire, smooth, slightly stiff and glossy, and the cartilaginous margin 

 is narrow and ciliated at the edge. The flower scape varies 

 from f to 4J inches in length, and carries an umbel of one to 

 six rose- or lilac-coloured flowers. The corolla lobe is bifid, not 

 emarginate, as in the case of the other three species of this subsection. 

 (Fig. 31.) 



Subsection (4), Erythrodrosum, contains six species. They all 

 have the distinguishing characteristics of fleshy leaves without 

 farina, but covered with pilose glands, from which issues a reddish 

 viscous exudation. Bracts short, not long, as in the previous sub- 

 section ; flowers rose or purple. They have a somewhat wide alpine 

 distribution. 



P. pedemontana, from the Graian and Cottian Alps. The leaves 

 are in shape obovate or oblong-lanceolate, entire or dentate, gradu- 

 ally diminishing into a petiole. They are glabrous or very slightly 

 glandular, but the margin has a dense short reddish ciliation. In 

 length they are from £ of an inch to 2} inches, and J to ij inch 

 broad. The glandular flower scape, about 6 inches in length, carries 

 an umbel of flowers of a beautiful rose colour, sometimes with a white 

 throat. The tubular calyx is glandular, with slightly cleft triangular 

 lobes. 



P. apennina, as its name implies, is found in the Apennines, but 

 seems to be confined to the northern part of the range. It is a plant 

 that at present few gardeners are furnished with. The leaves are 

 about 2 inches long, ovate, oblong, or lanceolate-cuneate, narrowing 

 gradually or suddenly into a petiole. They are either entire or 

 slightly toothed towards the apex and covered densely with large 

 yellowish brown glands. 



P. oenensis (fig. 32) comes from the west Rhaetian Alps. It is at 

 present not much known to commerce. The leaves are roughly cuneate, 

 gradually tapering into a petiole, very viscid, densely covered with 



