312 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDERER. 
[ October 8, 1885. 
P. Bernix.e, A. Kern. — A hybrid between P. hirsuta X viscosa, 
A. Kern • P. graveolenti X villosa, Obrist. The plant as yet is 
small, and I have not been able to judge of its merits, not having 
seen flowers. According, however, to Mr. Stein, who saw it at 
Stendner’s place at Munich, it is very fine. The leaves are much 
smaller than P. viscosa, slightly crenated edges, and covered with 
small glandular hairs, almost as broad at the base where it sheathes 
the stem as in the middle of the blade. We grow it in free sandy 
soil wedged between pieces of limestone. It is healthy and 
vigorous. 
P. biflora, Huter. (P. Floerkeana x minima, A. Kern ).—A 
rare little gem among Primroses, surpassing our little P. minima, 
to which it is nearly allied. The leaves are, however, larger, more 
sheathing at the base, and more distinctly serrated. The flowers 
are large, in pairs on the short stem, deep rose, and extremely hand¬ 
some, covering the whole plant, which is seldom more than an inch 
or so high. It inhabits about the same locality as P. minima, and 
flowers at the same time. It thrives well on limestone, with plenty 
of water during the growing season. 
P. Boveana, Decaisne .—The Abyssinian or Whorl-flowered 
Primrose belongs to a comparatively limited group, comprising 
among others, and perhaps best represented in gardens generally by 
the well-known P. japonica. It is nearly allied to P. verticillata, 
and according to Jaubert and Spach it is the plant that does duty 
for the latter-named Primrose, which, says Stein, is not in culti¬ 
vation in gardens at all at the present time. The plant named 
P. verticillata var. simensis by Dr. Masters, which was introduced 
some years ago by Messrs. Veitch of Chelsea under the provisional 
name of P. Courti, I consider perfectly distinct from P. Boveana, 
although Stein has included it in his synonymy of that species, 
which is quite distinct from Richards’ P. Boveana in the “ Abyss. 
Flora,” ii., 15, the latter being the same as the var. simensis, Mast. 
It has a much nearer affinity to P. verticillata than to P. Boveana, 
much larger flowers than the latter, and is altogether a more im¬ 
portant garden plant. 
Of P. Boveana the leaves are nearly erect, broad spathulate, 
with winged petioles. The margins are incised, and these again 
are minutely serrated. The stalks are erect, from 6 inches to a 
foot in height, carrying from three to five whorls, with about a 
dozen or more flowers in each, pale soft yellow and slightly per¬ 
fumed. The most characteristic mark in this species is its sharply 
serrated calyx segments, which are about half the length of the 
corolla tube. The whole plant is powdery or mealy. Unless in 
extremely favoured localities this plant will not stand out of doors 
in this country during severe winters, and even in cold frames it 
often succumbs to the damp close atmosphere consequent on the 
lights being closed. It may be safely carried through mild winters 
outside, however, where it can be kept perfectly dry and free from 
stagnant moisture. It flowers from March until June, and may 
be readily increased from seed, which it ripens freely. Native of 
Mount Sinai, &c., and is reported to be found growing near the 
spot where Moses struck the rock for water. Syn., P. verticillata, 
Bot. Mag., t. 2842. First introduced from Berlin about the year 
1825. 
P. Galygina, Duby .—This belongs to and may be taken as fairly 
typical of the section Arthritica, including P. spectabilis and others 
remarkable for their perfectly smooth glossy foliage. P. calycina (fig. 
50) has been long known in gardens, where it is often confounded 
with P. Wulfeniana, a totally different plant, and from which it is 
easily distinguished, even without the aid of flowers, by its longer and 
very irregularly margined leaves. It grows readily enough on the 
rockery in almost any position, but unless in exposed situations is 
rather a shy flowerer, and I can only manage to flower it by giving 
it a good roasting during the summer months, meanwhile supplying 
water very sparingly. It seems to prefer being wedged between 
hard pieces of granite in a rich stiffish soil. It forms rosettes of 
long ovate-lanceolate leaves, of a half-weathered green colour, per¬ 
fectly glabrous and shining, with a curiously wavy margin. Flowers 
large, of a beautiful clear lilac, generally three or four together on 
short stalks, at the base of which are long linear bracts. Calyx 
about an inch long, with narrow bluntisli sepals. It is a native of 
the southern Alps, flowering with us in May and June. Syn., 
P. glaucescens, Morett. ; P. kevigata, Duby ; P. integrifolia, WuJ. 
P. capitata, Rnyh. ■ The Round-headed Mealy Primrose is 
perhaps the finest of this section, and closely allied to the better 
known P. denticulata. It was first introduced to cultivation by Sir 
J. D. Hooker, who found it growing on gravelly banks at Lachen, 
Sikkim Himalaya, at an elevation of 10,000 feet above sea level. 
It has also been found common in the Hariab district in boggy and 
spongy meadow ground that is watered by springs at elevations of 
8000 feet. Although a true perennial in its native habitats it can 
hardly be regarded as such in our gardens ; for although a few will 
continue to flower the second, and even the third year, this is excep¬ 
tional, and the majority of them die after having flowered once. 
It ripens seeds fairly well in good seasons, and a succession may be 
had in this way ; but if the seedlings are raised in pots it is always 
safest to plant them out as soon as they are ready to handle, as 
their chance is greater than when kept in pots or boxes. Even 
when planted out I consider it lucky to have safely wintered half 
the plants in the south of England. A north exposure should be 
chosen, shady but open, and employ a mixture of rich loam and 
peat in about equal proportions. In dry weather they should be 
kept well watered ; indeed they should never be allowed to get dry 
at the root, and as much care as possible must be taken to keep the 
water off the leaves. The seed may be sown as soon as ripe in the 
autumn, or kept until spring. The latter we think the safest, as 
the plants gain strength enough to carry them through the winter 
without showing flower until the second year, unless the situation 
be too hot. 
P. capitata grows about a foot high, each plant bearing two or 
more scapes, and each carrying a large globular head of flowers not 
unlike a Sea Pink or an Allium. The flowers are sessile, closely 
packed together, deep purple, set off to the best advantage by the 
mealy dust that covers the whole plant. The leaves are radical, 
Fig. 50.—Primula (alycina, Duby . 
about 6 inches long, oblong lanceolate, rugose, with sharply serrated 
margins. From seedlings two good varieties have been lately intro¬ 
duced under the names of ccerulea and atroviolacea, the latter being 
by far the best colour we have ever seen. Another called grandi- 
flora seems to be a hybrid. It has distinct leaves, and improves on 
the type in the size of its flowers. They flower about June. 
P. Carniolica, Jacq .—About this very little seems to be known 
in gardens, although its merits are such as to entitle it to a first 
place amongst hardy alpines. It also has the advantage of growing 
with remarkable freedom on the rockery, where it can get a dry 
bottom and plenty of sunshine. It will do well in an almost per¬ 
pendicular position, with just sufficient soil to cover its roots. The 
large loose rosettes of leaves are very pretty during summer. They 
are about 2 inches long, ovate lanceolate, but again broadening 
where they clasp the stem, perfectly glabrous, and shining as if 
varnished on the upper surface; sub-repand, not cartilaginous at 
the edges. Flower stalk about 3 or 4 inches in height, carrying 
from three to eight flowers about an inch in diameter, pale or deep 
lilac, with a silvery white centre. Though thin-textured they last 
a considerable time in beauty, the contrast against the pale greenish 
foliage being very striking. It flowers May and June, and is a 
native of the Alps of Carinthia and Carniola. Syn., P. integrifolia, 
Scop. ; P. Freyeri, Jdladn. ; P. Jellenkiana, Frey ; P. grandiflora, 
