28 
NAT. ORDER. PRIMULACE^. 
obovate-oblong, about five inches in length, nearly upright, tapering 
to the base, blunt, veiny, wrinkled, smooth above, hirsute beneath, 
rolled back at the edge when young, slightly waved, unequally 
notched, the midrib whitish, terminating in a footstalk of a reddish 
color, channelled on one side and keeled on the other ; the scapes or 
peduncles numerous, the length of the leaves, upright, round, hirsute, 
pale green, having awl-shaped bracteas at the base, after the flow- 
ering is over bending back ; flowers upright, large, sweet-scented ; 
the corolla is of a pale sulphur color ; each of the five clefts are ob- 
cordate, and marked at the base with a spot of a much deeper yel- 
low ; the mouth has a faint rim round it. The flower of the wild 
Primrose is of a deep brimstone color ; but in some places it is found 
of a purple hue. The varieties of this species are numerous, being 
Dartly wild and partly cultivated. 
Primula elatior — Great Cowslip or Oxlip. This species has 
the leaves contracted towards the middle, similar to the Cowslip ) 
the scapes are few, erect, longer than the leaves, many-flowered ; 
flowers umbelled, pedicelled, the outer ones generally nodding ; like 
those of the Primrose in form and color, but smaller. From which 
it is evidently distinguished by its many-flowered scape ; as it is from 
the Cowslip by the flat border of the corolla. It is found in the 
woods and other places of this country, flowering in April and May, 
Martin, speaking of this plant, remarks, " that if it be a variety, 
it is rather of the former than the latter ; but we are inclined to 
think that it is a hybrid production, or mule from a Primrose impreg- 
nated by a Cowslip. It varies much in the color of the flowers, but 
the most are purple-flowered, red-flowered, golden-flowered, orange- 
flowered, with various shades of each. 
Primula officinalis — Common Cowslip, or Paigle. This has a 
root like that of the Primrose, but smelling more powerfully of anise ; 
the leaves are obovate-oblong, contracted suddenly towards the mid- 
dle, or rather ovate with the petiole winged, shorter than those of 
the Primrose by nearly one-half, fuller at the edge, which is some- 
