THE PRIMROSE FAMILY 
25 
VI. Sea Milkwort (Glaux). Flowers solitary in the axils of the leaves ; sepals coloured 
like petals ; corolla o ; capsule few-seeded, opening at the top by 5 valves. 
Capsule splitting in two crosswise, the upper part falling off like a lid. 
VII. Pimpernel (Anagal'lis). Flowers solitary in the axils of the leaves ; petals only united 
at the base. 
VIII. Bastard Pimpernel (Centun'culus). Flowers minute, solitary in the axils of the 
leaves ; petals shorter than sepals ; parts of the flower usually in fours. 
Calyx-tube adhering to the seedcase. 
IX. Brookweed (Sam'olus). Flowers in terminal and axillary clusters ; capsule opening at the 
top by 5 teeth. 
I. PRIM ULA. Linn. — Flowers yellow, mauve, or red, in clusters of long or shortly stalked flowers 
all rising from the same point (umbels) on a leafless stalk (scape). Calyx of 5 sepals united into 
a tube and separating into 5 teeth, distinct from and inserted below the seedcase (inferior) ; corolla 
of 5 petals united into a long narrow tube and spreading into a flat 5-lobed limb, salver- or funnel- 
shaped, inserted below the seedcase (hypogynous) ; stamens 5, either included in the corolla-tube 
or projecting from it, inserted on the corolla-tube, opposite to the centre of the lobes ; carpels 5, 
the stigma included in the corolla-tube or projecting beyond it; fruit a i-celled, many-seeded 
capsule, opening at the top by 5 valves which are sometimes cleft. Herbs with the leaves all 
from the root (radical). 
The position of the stamens and stigma is very interesting in many of the species : when the 
stamens are short and are included in the corolla-tube the style is long and the stigma projects 
beyond the throat of the tube ; when the stamens are long and project beyond the corolla-tube the 
style is short and the stigma is halfway down the tube. Such plants are said to be dimorphous. 
The reason for this strange disposition of these parts was explained by Darwin, who discovered how 
it was connected with the fertilisation of the plants. Lord Avebury, in his book on “ British Wild 
Flowers in Relation to Insects,” aptly explains what takes place. He says : “ An insect thrusting 
its proboscis down a primrose of the long-styled form would dust its proboscis at a part 
which, when it visited a short-styled flower, would come just opposite the head of the pistil, 
and could not fail to deposit some of the pollen on the stigma. Conversely, an insect visiting a 
short-styled plant would dust its proboscis at a part further from the tip ; which, when the insect 
subsequently visited a long-styled flower, would again come just opposite the head of the pistil. 
Hence we see that by this beautiful arrangement, insects must carry the pollen of the long-styled 
form to the short-styled, and vice versa .” This is one of the many wonderful methods nature uses 
to ensure the best fertilisation and so produce the healthiest offspring. 
Calyx-tube angular ; leaves wrinkled, hairy beneath, not mealy ; corolla-lobes slightly notched. 
(1) Primrose. (Prim'ula vulgaris.) — Flowers large, pale yellow, on long stalks, apparently 
solitary ; throat of the corolla-tube with 5 scale-like folds. 
(2) Cowslip. (Prim'ula veris.) — Flowers shortly stalked, bright yellow, in a cluster terminating 
a long leafless stalk ; throat of the corolla-tube with 5 scale-like folds. 
(3) Oxlip. (Prim'ula eMtior.) — Flowers shortly stalked, pale yellow, in a i-sided cluster 
terminating a long stalk ; corolla-tube without the scale-like folds. 
