204 Peacock : The Lincolnshire Ox lip. 



either parent. In the field I have only foun_d the sub-hybrid 

 {acaulis X officinalis) x acaulis, but have obtained [officinalis x 

 acanlis) x officinalis by natural bee crossing". The other sub- 

 hybrids [acaulis x officinalis) x officinalis, and [officinalis x acaulis) 

 X acaulis, have only been obtained by hand in the garden. (4) 

 A form which is generally classed as a variety of P. acaulis and 

 called caulescens Koch. 



We will now attempt to consider these so-called Oxlips in 

 order : — (i) and (2) are very often, perhaps I might write nearly 

 always, found where acaulis grows near officinalis ; and can be 

 easily produced by growing them in proximity in a garden. If, 

 however, their natural localities are carefully analysed, certain 

 facts come to the front. In fairly open woods, or on bushy 

 banks or hedge-sides, the hybrid is (i) and 'favours' the Primrose. 

 On the other hand, in open meadows and poor pastures the 

 hybrid is (2), and ' favours ' the Cowslip. So certain is this 

 rule that I have only found one natural exception in over two 

 score of cases. The circumstances w^ere peculiar. The hybrid 

 was found in an orchard where both parent species then grew. 

 It was nearest the Cowslip in position, but 'favoured' the 

 Primrose in form, and there can be no doubt it was hybrid (i). 

 The sub-hybrid (3), as far as my observations are concerned, is 

 confined to open woods, where the Primrose grows with 

 hybrid (i). I have never found it in the open. This is not 

 wonderful, for hybrid (2) is rare. The (4) form, which is called 

 caulescens Koch, may only be a variety of P. acaulis^ but I have 

 every reason to believe it is P. acaulis crossed again with 

 sub-h3^brid (3), or [(^acaulis x officinalis) x acaulis\ x acaulis, 

 that is a form in which acaulis has always been the seed- 

 producing plant for hybrid which is one-eighth part of officinalis 

 origin. In the field or experimental ground it is simply a 

 common Primrose in which the underground flower stalk has 

 lengthened into a shorter or longer stalk, carrying a straggling 

 umbel of flowers. It is the parent form of the Polyanthus of 

 our gardens. Single plants may rarely be found with typical 

 and caulescens flowers. It may be nothing but a mere variet}- of 

 P. acaulis, but certain matters seem to tell against that view. 

 It is curious I have only taken it where the hybrid (i) or sub- 

 hybrid (3) grow with both parent forms. I have also found 

 'pin-eyed and thumb-eyed' flowers on the same caiilescens 

 umbel. I nex er remember doing this on one root of the typical 

 Primrose, though it is not uncommon on garden Polyanthuses. 

 Some }-ears ago in Mambv woods a large clearing of timber 



Naturalist, 



