Gif THE CYCLAMEN. 
77 
may be found growing wild in some Kentish woods ; it is almost 
certainly naturalised, the seed having been originally carried from 
some garden, and thus it has established itself as in a state of 
nature. 
The Cyclamen is a very worthy member of the Natural Order 
Primulacece , which contains so many popular favourites. Amongst 
other distinctions the chief points of note in examining flowers 
belonging to this Order are— 
1st. That the corolla is invariably monopetalous —that is, the petals 
are all united together in one piece in a tube, the extremity 
of which is, however, usually divided into several lobes or 
segments, usually five in number; so that in speaking of the 
petals of a Cyclamen we mean the separate segments of the 
united corolla ; and 
2nd. That the stamens are inserted upon the corolla, and 
opposite to the several lobes. 
There is also the capsuled many-seeded fruit. 
In the genus Cyclamen the segments of the corolla are always 
reflexed, or doubled back, and sometimes twisted. 
There appears to be no little confusion in the determination of 
some of the species, as there unquestionably is a misapprehension 
amongst the trade, both here and abroad, on the subject of nomen¬ 
clature; even our best authorities differ. It is most desirable, 
therefore, that a general understanding be arrived at, if possible, 
whereby it shall be recognised what really are the points of 
difference between the various species. With the kind aid of 
several well-known Cyclamen growers, I have made an attempt 
in this direction, which may perhaps be of some use until a better 
arrangement can be supplied. Here at starting a serious difficulty 
meets us: upon what are we to base our distinctions so that no 
mistake can possible occur, so that when a plant is shown it may 
be possible to say definitely, this is hedercefolium , or ibericum , or 
vernum, as the case may be? The leaves furnish one of the main 
distinctions, but only in conjunction with other features. Many 
authorities lay great stress upon the colour of the upper and under 
surfaces, but this is fallacious; and not much less so with the 
form of the leaf. Take hedercefolium for example ; you have ovate, 
cordate, hastate, and sub-hastate leaves, and all may be produced 
from the seed of a single plant. Leaves may therefore assist in 
identification, but cannot alone determine it. We must look to other 
points to assist us in our task. 
