264 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



rolled backwards and those with the margins rolled inwards. The 

 latter is thus made to include the convolute as well as the condupHcate 

 condition. I regard that as a vital mistake, for there can be no manner 

 of doubt that the two groups represented by P. floribunda and P. 

 Auricula are widely different, whether that difference be a consequence 

 or not of their vernation. It is certainly very remarkable that all the 

 species with conduplicate vernation are more tropical than any other 

 group of Primulas ; that they inhabit a distinct area or region ; and that 

 they all resemble each other very closely. 



" I turn now to P. floribunda in order to try to afford you some 

 particulars in the direction I understand you desire. In India that 

 species is confined to the N.-W. Himalaya, more especially to the outer 

 and lower ranges between the latitudes 29° to 36° N . This is significant, 

 for it will be recollected the rainfall of the Eastern Himalaya is in rough 

 figures three times that of the Western. In point of altitude its range 

 is from 1500 to 6000 feet above the sea. The lower outer Himalaya 

 contain many outcrops of limestone, and it is where that occurs that 

 P. floribunda abounds. In the higher points of its range it is found in 

 cracks in the rocks, underneath the spray of waterfalls. The leaves 

 are there thin, pale green, almost glabrous, and the flowers in minute, 

 few-flowered verticils. When seen under shelter and in dry situations 

 the leaves become larger, more distinctly hairy and hoary, the scapes 

 elongate and the whorls of flowers become distinct. But a far greater 

 change is observable on passing to the lower tracts of country where the 

 species is met with. For example, on passing westward the altitude falls 

 until in the extreme north of the Panjab it reaches very near to the 

 plains. At the Khyber Pass it is met with, but the plant has become 

 two or three times the size it attains in its more alpine tracts, is quite 

 glabrous, and often mealy. It in fact comes very close to the condition 

 we have accepted as P.xkewensis. The most striking points in the 

 enhanced Khyber plant are the numerous whorls of large flowers 

 and the very distinct foliaceous bracts around the separate whorls 

 of flowers on the elongated scape. I would recommend that those 

 interested in this subject should make an effort to secure seed of the 

 Khyber plant and to use that stock in future experiments. But beyond 

 and above all other considerations I would urge that seed of P. Lacei 

 be secured from Quetta and the cultivation of that charming species 

 be at last undertaken. I can imagine nothing more beautiful for 

 conservatory purposes than that delightful species. ... It luxuriates in 

 dry situations on limestone soil. If by its conveyance to Europe 

 it were found to dispense to some extent with its suffruticose 

 habit, it would still, no doubt, preserve its charming leaves and 

 bewitching flowers." 



