150 
FLORA OF FORFARSHIRE. 
— F. April, June. P. (P. acaulis , All. P. veris y. acau- 
lis, L.) 
Banks and shady places abundant. In profusion in the 
Dens of Mains, Airlie, Glammis, Foulis, &c. Sidlaw hills and 
Clova mountains, and in wooded dens alonor the coast. 
With pale purple flowers at Usan, Mr A. Croall. 
It occasionally occurs with only four divisions in the limb 
of the corolla, and a corresponding number of stamens. In 
Trientalis a similar diminution of the parts of fructification 
has sometimes puzzled the Linnaean student, some plants 
having only six stamens, and the like number of divisions in 
its monopetalous corolla. 
The Primrose is a beloved flower with poetical minds, and 
has many pleasant associations. Elliot, with his soul-awa- 
kening eloquence, thus addresses it in the following lines : — 
“ TO THE PRIMROSE. 
Surely that man is pure in thought and deed, 
Whom spirits teach in breeze-born melodies; 
For he finds tongues in every flower and weed, 
And admonitions in mute harmonies. 
Erect he moves, by Truth and Beauty led, 
And climbs his throne, for such a monarch meet, 
T o gaze on valleys, that, around him spread, 
Carpet the hall of heaven beneath his feet. 
How like a trumpet under all the skies, 
Blown to convene all forms that love his beams, 
Light speaks in splendour to the poet’s eyes, 
O’er dizzy rocks, and woods, and headlong streams ! 
How like the voice of woman, when she sings 
To her belov’d, of love and constancy, 
Thy vernal odours, o’er the murmurings 
Of distant waters, pour their melody 
Into his soul, mixed with the throstle’s song 
And the wren’s twitter ! Welcome then again, 
Love-listening Primrose ! Though not parted long. 
We meet, like lovers, after years of pain ; 
Oh, thou bring’st blissful childhood back to me ! 
Thou still are loveliest in the lonest place ; 
Still, as of old, day glows with love for thee, 
And reads our heavenly Father in thy face. 
Surely thy thoughts are humble and devout, 
Flower of the pensive gold ! for why should Heaven 
Deny to thee his noblest boon of thought, 
If to earth’s demigods ’tis vainly given ? 
