154 
THE LADIES’ FLOWER-GARDEN 
CHAPTER XLII. 
PRIMULACE^. 
Character of the Order. — Calyx divided, five-cleft, seldom four- 
cleft ; inferior, regular, persistent. Corolla monopetalous, hypogynous, 
regular ; the limb five-cleft, seldom four-cleft. Stamens inserted upon 
the corolla, equal in number to its segments, and opposite them. 
Ovary one-celled ; style 1 ; stigma capitate. Capsule opening with 
valves ; placenta central, distinct. Seeds numerous, pellate ; embryo 
included within fleshy albumen, and lying across the hilum ; radicle 
with no determinate direction. 
Description, &c. — All the species belonging to this order are herbaceous plants ; generally of low stature, 
and with pretty flowers. They are most abundant in the temperate regions ; and, when they grow within the 
Tropics, they are generally found on the sea-coast, or on the summit of lofty mountains. The name of Primulaceaj 
signifies the first, in allusion to most of the species flowering early in spring. Nearly all the plants belonging to 
this order are quite hardy in Great Britain. 
GENUS I. 
CYCLAMEN, L. THE SOWBREAD. 
Lin. Syst. PENTANDRIA MONOGYNIA. 
Generic Character. — Calyx five-cleft. Corolla rotate. Segments reflexed. Tube very short. Faux prominent. Stamens five. Anthers 
connivent. Stigma one. Scape one-flowered. Flowers naked. 
Description, &c. — All the kinds of Cyclamen are generally easily recognised by the reflexed segments of the 
flowers. They have tuberous roots, and most of the species are natives of Europe. The word Cyclamen signifies 
a succession of circles, in allusion to the curious manner in which the flower-stalks curl up when the seeds begin 
to ripen ; and the name of Sowbread alludes to the fondness of swine for the tubers of the Italian species. 
I.— CYCLAMEN COUM, Mill. THE ROUND-LEAVED CYCLAMEN. 
Synonymes. — C. orbiculata, Bauh ; C. hyemale, Herm. | Specific Character Stemless. Leaves kidney-shaped ; petioles 
Engraving. — Bot. Mag., t. 4. 1 shorter than the flower-stalks ; flowers small ; style enclosed. 
Description, &c. — This species grows wild in many parts of Italy and Germany, in woods and shady places, 
where it sometimes flowers as early as February when the weather is mild. In British gardens, however, it 
seldom flowers before March or April, unless kept in pots. This plant cannot be increased by dividing the roots, 
as the principal root-stock is a kind of tuber resembling a turnip, and cannot be divided without injury ; but the 
species is easily increased by seed, which should be sown as soon as it is ripe in pots or boxes. The boxes should 
then be placed where they will have only the morning sun till the beginning of September, when they will bear 
a warmer exposure. They may be slightly protected if the winter should be severe, and may be planted out 
early in spring, or left to flower where they were sown, as may be most convenient. 
2.— CYCLAMEN VERNUM, Mor. THE SPRING CYCLAMEN. 
Synonymes. — C. vernale, Steud. ; C. coum, Lodd. 
Engravings. — Lodd. Bot. Cab., t. 108 ; Swt. Brit. Flow. Gard. 
t. 9 ; and our Jig. 3, in PI. 92. 
Specific Character. — Sub-caulescent. Leaves cordate, subcrenu- 
late, emarginate at the apex, sinus over-lapping at the base ; segments 
of the corolla oblong-ovate ; style exserted. 
Description, &c. — This species bears considerable resemblance to C. coum ; but it differs in having a stem, 
though it is a very short one, and cordate leaves with the sides overlapping at the base. The species is a native of 
