LVII. PRIMULACE^l 
297 
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LVII. PRIMULACE^E 
Herbs of various habit ; rootstock usually perennial. Leaves 
undivided, usually entire ; stipules none. Flowers 2-sexual, 
regular. Calyx free, except in Samolus, 5- rarely 4-lobed or 
toothed, persistent. Corolla hypogynous, gamopetalous ; tube 
cylindric and distinct or very short, the corolla being lobed 
nearly to its base ; limb 5- rarely 4-lobed, spreading or erect. 
Stamens 5, rarely 4, inserted in the tube or at the base of the 
corolla, opposite to the lobes ; filaments short or long, usually 
free ; anthers 2-celled. Ovary free, except in Samolus, ovoid or 
globose, 1-celled ; style short or long ; stigma simple ; ovules 
usually many, attached to a free central column. Capsule 
1-celled, opening from the top by 5 valves, except in Anagallis ; 
seeds minute, usually numerous. — A widely spread Order, chiefly 
inhabiting N. temperate and alpine regions. 
Flowers in heads, umbels or whorls, or solitary on radical 
stalks. Corolla-tube distinct. 
Corolla-tube longer than the calyx . . . 1 . Primula. 
Corolla-tube shorter than the calyx . . . .2. Andro-sace. 
Flowers racemed or axillary. Corolla lobed nearly to the base. 
Flowers borne in the axils of leaves or bracts ; stalks 
naked. Ovary superior. 
Corolla or in. diam. Leaves J in. or more long. 
Filaments glabrous. Capsule opening from the top 
in 5 valves . . . . . . . 3. Lysimachia. 
Filaments hairy. Capsule opening by a circular 
fissure round the middle . . . .4. Anagallis. 
Corolla minute. Leaves less than J in. long . . 5. Centunculus. 
Flowers not axillary ; stalks bearing a small bract near 
the middle. Ovary half -inferior . . . . 6 . Samolus . 
1. PRIMULA. From the Latin 'primus, first ; referring to the 
early flowering of many species. — Chiefly N. temperate and alpine 
regions ; S. America. 
Herbs ; stems very short or none. Leaves all radical, sessile 
or stalked, spathulate, oblong or ovate, toothed. Flowers ^ to 
nearly 1 in. diam., crowded in a terminal, head-like umbel or 
solitary on distinct radical stalks or whorled. Calyx tubular, 
5-lobed. Corolla funnel- or salver-shaped ; tube longer than the 
calyx, cylindric ; limb spreading, 5-lobed. Stamens 5, included, 
inserted near the base or at the throat of the corolla-tube ; fila- 
ments very short. Ovary globose ; style as long as the corolla- 
tube or much shorter ; stigma capitate ; ovules numerous. Cap- 
sule globose, splitting from the top in 5 valves ; seeds many, 
minute. 
The flowers of the common Primrose and other species of Primula present 
two forms in the same species : long-styled, with the stamens deep in the 
