156 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Section Farinosa. 



World-wide as is the distribution of this section through P. farinosa, 

 Linn., it is poorly developed in China in two species only of the northern 

 areas. P. sibirica, Jacq., is recorded from West Kansu eastwards to 

 North Shensi and beyond, and shows some variations in consequence 

 which have not yet been properly studied. As a plant of cultivation 

 it completes its centenary in five years' time and still holds its place. 



Of P. Loczii, Kanitz, a plant of Kansu, considered by Pax to be a 

 form of P. borealis, Duby, and placed in this section, I know nothing. 

 Its geographical distribution as given by Pax suggests mistaken 

 identity. It is a far cry from Alaska to Kansu, and these are the two 

 areas from which the plant is said to come. 



Chinese Species of the Farinosa Section. 

 Lilac-rose flowers. 

 P. Loczii, Kanitz 

 P. sibirica, Jacq. 



Section Auriculata. 



Auriculata is a typical Central Asiatic section of Primula, and 

 no representatives of it are known in China south of Kansu and North 

 Szechwan. It is the type of Primula that we may expect more of 

 when Kansu is more fully explored. The Chinese species are all 

 small, even miniature, and have thick spathulate leaves with a broad 

 prominent midrib, a calyx with segmental ribs, and pergamentous 

 intervals in the calyx-tube between the ribs. P. stenocalyx, Maxim., 

 is the longest-known species. P. leptopoda, Bur. et Franch., is P. 

 stenocalyx, Maxim., and P. Biondiana, Petitm., one of Wilson's plants, 

 is doubtfully distinct. In cultivation is or has been P. cognata, Duthie, 

 one of Purdom's finds raised by Messrs. Veitch in 1906. Its light- 

 bluish purple flowers are said to be delightfully scented. I think that 

 P. Prattii, Hemsl., a yellow-flowered plant collected by Pratt, should 

 find its place here, but the only specimens of it, which are at Kew, are 

 fragmentary. It has no affinity with either P. Stuartii, Wall., or 

 P. pulchella, Franch., with which it has been compared. 



Chinese Species of the Auriculata Section. 

 Blue or purple flowers. Yellow flowers. 



P. Biondiana, Petitm. P. Prattii, Hemsl. 

 P. cognata, Duthie 

 P. stenocalyx, Maxim. 



I have now to mention a dozen or so of Chinese species which are 

 distributed in various sections by Pax, tentatively in many instances. 

 Only one of them is yet in cultivation, but herbarium specimens tell 

 us that some are lovely alpines which collectors ought to look for. 

 My grouping of them, based upon hurried examination, all for which 

 I have had opportunity, is merely suggestive. 



