68 
The BRITISH HERBAL. 
The leaves Hand in pairs, and are of a cordated 
or heart-faftiioncd fhape : they are of a deep 
green ; they have no footftallis, and they fur- 
K>und the ftallc at their bafe. The fcveral pairs 
do not ftand in the fame hne, but oppoGte; and 
fometimes, as in our common kind, there grow 
three leaves or more at a joint, inftead of two. 
The flowers ftand on (lender footftallcs, and 
arc of a beautiful blue. 
Thfe feed vcflil is round, and the feeds are 
fmall. 
It is a mitiVe of Spain, and flowers in Augufl. 
Tourncfort calls it Amiailis Hifpanica latijolm 
max'mo flare. Others, Craciala montam c^ruleii. 
GENUS IX, 
PRIMROSE. 
PRIMULA. 
THE flower confifts of a Angle petal in a long cup ; the tube of the petal is of the length of the 
cup, and its edge is divided into five fegments, which are obtufe, and dented in the middle : 
the feed-veflcl is lingle and long ; and the flower ftands Angle upon a naked footllalk. 
Tinn^us places this among his fentandria mmo^jiiia, the threads in the flower being five, and the 
rudiment of the fruit fingle : but he includes the cowflip and auricula under this name, making them 
all one genus. 
This is not neceflTary nor convenient. The cowflip has its particular name and peculiar virtues, 
and it is fufficichtly diftinguiflied by having fevcral flowers upon a fl:alk, whereas in the primrcfe 
there is but one ; nor does the auricula want its marks of diftinftion from both. 
DIVISION I. BRITISH SPECIES. 
Common Primrofe. 
Prmiihi vulgiiris. 
The root is a (hort, thick head, furniUled with 
a great number of long and large fibres. 
The leaves rife in a great tuft ; and are large, 
oblong, and without footflalks : they are rough, 
of a deep, but pleafant green, and not dented at 
the edges. 
The flowers rife among thefe on fingle foot- 
nry, 
A'hitilh, 
ftalks : thefe are flender, naked, 
and each fuftains one flower. 
This is large, and white, or yellowifh, deeply 
divided into five fegments, which arc broadcft 
at the end, and indented there in a heart-falhioned 
The feed-veflel is longifh, flender, and co^ 
vered ; and the feeds are numerous and roundifli. 
It is common in v/oods and thickets, and 
flowers in fpring. 
C. Bauhine calls it Verbajculum fylvatkmn majus 
fwguhri flore. 
The roots of the common primrofe are ufed as 
a flernutatory againft difeafcs of the head. The 
bell way is to bruife them, and prefs out the 
juice, which is to be fnulFed up. It occafions vio- 
lent fneezing, and brings away a great deal of 
water, but without danger. 
Dried and powdered, the roots are good in 
nervous diiorders ; but the dofe mufl: be fmall. 
It is reported to be a cure in the night-mare. 
DIVISION II. FOREIGN SPECIES. 
Purple Primrofe. 
Primula -purpurea folio hrevi. 
The root confifts of a fmall head, and a vaft 
quantity of ftiort fibres. 
The leaves .ire numerous, and form a thick 
tuft : they are ftiort and broad, irregularly and 
nightly fiiiuated at the edges, and pointed at the 
ends. 
The ftalk which fupports the flower is three 
inches high, whitifh, naked, and flender. 
Ths flower ftands at the top, fingle and large : 
it has a green hufli, ribbed in five places, and 
is itfelf divided into five fegments; thefe are 
broad, and heart-fafliioned at the ends ; the co- 
lour is a beautiful purple, except in the centre, 
where there is a yellow ftar. 
The feed-vefiei is long, and the feeds are nu- 
merous and fmall. 
It is a native of Turky, and flowers in fpring. 
Cornutus calls it Primula veris Conjlantino^o- 
litana. Others, Primula purpurea. 
The Turks call it Carchichec : they give the 
roots dried and powdered in difordcrs of the fio- 
mach, and, as is faid, with great fuccefs. 
GENUS X. 
COWSLIP. 
PJRJLTSIS. 
THE flower confifts of a fingle petal, tubular in the lower part, and at the edge divided into five 
fegments, obtufe, and dented in the middle : the feed-vsflel is Angle and oblong : feveral flowers 
ftand upon one naked ftalk. 
Linn£U6 
