but what do all there prove? vikf that the Primula, like moll other plants, is fubjeftto the fpomnw of nature 
and which are no more to be regarded than the uncommon colours of a flower ; the root or the flalk of a plant 
may be equally fubjea to vary as the bloffom, and thofe who cultivate plants fee frequent mftances of it i 
once had a daify which became caulcfcent, that is, its peduncle became a (talk which threw out many pedunc es 
bearing flowers, the terminal one of which was proliferous, but no one from fuch an uncommon inftance would 
infer that the acaulis charafler of the daify was invalidated ; it is juft fo in my humble opinion wii h regard to the 
Primrofe, in general the peduncles fpring fingly from the root, and m forming its fpecific charatter we mult be 
guided by their ufual and genuine appearance. . , r • 
Befides the {hiking charafler drawn from the inflorefcence, a very material difference is i oblervable m 
other parts of the plant, betwixt it and the Cowflip at leaft; to fay nothing of the leaves, which have been 
noticed by Ray in a contracted point of view, vid. Syn. ed. 3. p. 283. how different is the corolla m hze an 
fliape, and how very different is the calyx ? ' . r 
In their natural place of growth, and time of flowering, we ob ferve a very material difference betwixt tiicle 
two plants ; the Primrofe loves fhelter, and the light umbrage of deciduous trees, through the leafiefs Iprays or 
which it may enjoy the vernal fun, and when its flowering is over, be fhaded from its too potent rays by the 
expanding foliage ; hence we find it molt commonly in woods, copfes, hedge-rows, at the foot of hedges, and 
in flickered lanes, where it is one of the firft of our plants which awakens to the genial warmth of the fun, 
and welcomes the returning year ; if the feafon be mild it will flower from March to May, its higheft ftate of 
bloom is with that of the Wood Anemone ; it is alfo much difpofed to flower in the autumn, and even during 
winter if the weather be not fevere : the Cowflip ver^ rarely manifefts a difpofition of this fort, contented once 
to fhew its freckled bloom ; inllead of woods and their attendant {hade, this muftbe fought for in open paftures, 
and meadows, where it courts that degree of fun which would prove fatal to the Primrofe, it flowers in May 
with the early f potted Orchis. (Orchis mafcula). 
The ufual colour of the Primrofe bloflom is pale fulphur, in fome parts of the kingdom they are faid to be 
found wild of a purple hue ; to enumerate all the varieties which have fprung from accident, or culture, would 
afford little entertainment or inftruftion ; fuffice it to {ay that many of them are very ornamental, and highly 
deferving of our care ; the following are the moft ftriking varieties which I have yet had it in my power to 
cultivate, the single vehite flowered, the paper white, which Mr. Miller fays, without affigning any reafon, is 
certainly a diftinfl fpecies, the red or purple of various (hades, the hofe in hofe ; the double yellow, the deep 
velvet red, the pale red, or flejh-colourcd ; the white and the dingy purple, called by fome the Scotch Primrofe ; 
all thefe are charming ornaments for the ffirubbery, the fix laff are plants of fome value, and duplicates of 
them fhould be kept in pots, which during fummer muff be placed in fome fliady fituation ; in the fpring the 
fhelter of a green-houfe will bring them forward, and make them flower to advantage, and as they bloffom 
very early, they will tend to enliven a colleftion of more rare and valuable plants. 
That curious variety called by Gerard and Parkinson Majler Hesketh’s Primrofe, we have not met with 
in the colleflions about London ; we hope it may yet remain in fome part of the kingdom, as it appeal's 
deferving of culture from its great Angularity ; it is faid by Parkinson to bear not only Angle flowers upon 
feverall ftalkes, but fometimes two or three Angle flowers upon one ftalk, and alfo at the fame time a bigger 
ftalke, and fomewhat higher, having one green hufke at the toppe thereof, fometimes broken on the one fide, 
and fometimes whole, in the middle whereof ftandeth fometimes divers Angle flowers thruft together, vide its 
Ao\ in his Parad. terr. The following is Gerard’s account of it, “ There is a {(range Primrofe founde 
“°growing wilde, in Clapdale-Wood, near Settle, in Yorkfhire, by the travel, and induftry of a learned 
“ gentleman of Lancafliire, called mailer Thomas Hesketh, and a diligent fearcher of Simples, who hath 
“ not only brought to light this amiable and pleafant kind of Primrofe, but many others likewife, never before 
“ his time remembred, or founde out. This kinde of Primrofe hath leaves, and rootes like the wilde Aelde 
“ Primrofe, in eche refpeft, it bringeth forth among the leaves a naked ftalke of a greyifh or overworne 
“ greenifh colour, at the top whereof doth growe in the winter time one flower, and no more, like unto that 
“ Angle one of the Aelde ; but in the fummer time it bringeth foorth a foft ruffet hufke or hofe, wherein are 
“ conteined many fmal flowers, fometimes fower or Ave and oftentimes more, very thicke thruft together, 
“ which maketh one entire flower, feeming to be one of the common double Primrofes, whereas indeed 
“ it is one double flower made of a number of fmal Angle flowers, never ceafing to beare flowers winter 
“ nor fummer as before is fpecifled.” 
While we are thus defcribing the varieties to which this plant is fubjeft, it may not be amifs to obferve 
that the {lamina alfo vary greatly in their Atuation, being fometimes found low down in the tube of the 
bloffom, fometimes at its mouth, in the former inftance the Piftillum which varies alfo in length fhews its 
round ftigma, and with its attendant ftyle looks like a pin ftuck in the! centre of the flower ; fuch flowers 
in the Polyanthus are termed pin-eyed, while thofe in which the anthene clofe the mouth of the tube, 
are called thrum-eyed, and this latter appearance in the opinion of the florift is an effential requifite in 
a good flower. 
The contemplative mind feels a complacency in furveying the improvements which Providence permits 
to take place, in that part of the animal and vegetable world which mankind have brought under their 
care and prote£lion, many inftances of thefe might be adduced from the more ufeful and neceffary pro- 
duftions, but it is not thofe only that amend under our care, we are permitted alfo to gratify our flight with the 
endlefs varieties that flowers put on, when cultivated by the curious ; nor in any one inftance does 
“ The exulting Florift mark 
“ with fee ret pride the wonders of his hand ” 
more than in the boundlefs luxuriance that Polyanthufes affume, their parent the Primrofe being a native, 
they face the feverity of the winds of March much more boldly than any foreign plants, natives of 
warmer climates. 
Linn & us indeed cautions Botanifts againft being feduced by the gaudy tints, that fafeinate the mere florift, 
but furely we may fafely admire, without fixing our attention wholly on the flower-bed. 
The Primrofe comes in for a {hare alfo of medicinal fame. 
The leaves and the root of Primrofe feem to partake in fome degree of the nature of thofe of 
Afarum, afting as ftrong errhines, or fternutatories, when fnuffed up the nofe, and as emetics (the roots at 
leaft) when taken inwardly ; Gerard reports as from the experience of a {kilful praftitioner, that a drachm 
and a half of the powder of the dried roots taken up iu autumn purgeth by vomit very forcibly, but fafely, 
in fuch manner as Afarum doth. Lewis M. M. 
The root affords a good example of the radix dentata, the tubercles forming the teeth, arife as in moft 
roots of the kind from the remains of the bafe of the leaf, and hence from their number fome idea may be 
formed of the age of the plant. 
