1S70. ] 
PEIMULA COBTUSOIDES AND ITS VARIETIES. 
193 
PRIMULA CORTUSOIDES AND ITS VARIETIES. 
WITH AN ILLUSTRATION. 
VAR large Japanese varieties of Primula oortusoides, so mucli superior to 
til® ordinary form as to appear quite distinct, we have acquired some of the 
choicest and most beautiful materials for ornamenting the hardy flower 
V garden. The public are indebted to the late Mr. John Gould Veitch for 
the introduction, and to the Messrs. Veitch and Sons for the distribution of these 
charming hardy plants, and our own obligations are due to those gentlemen for the 
opportunity of preparing the accompanying figures of three of the best and most dis^ 
tinct, namely, amcena (fig. 1.), which is of the richest magenta, with white centre, 
and has notched, but otherwise entire segments ; striata (fig. 2), a pretty lilac, 
which has the margin of the flowers toothed, and the colour prettily striated ; and 
GRANDIFLORA (flg. 3), remarkable for its drooping concave or cup-shaped form, 
and for having the inside almost pure white, while the outer surface is of a rosy 
purple hue. The variety striata has been sometimes called lilacina^ a name 
which is now cancelled. Besides these, there are alha^ with pure white blossoms, 
and alhida^ with blossoms of a grayish white, and of the same drooping type as 
grandijiora. We may refer to an article in our volume for 1867 (p. 172), for 
additional information, merely observing here that these Primulas, grown in pots, 
form excellent decorative plants for cool houses in spring, and inviting attention 
to the following observations, which refer chiefly to the more brilliant variety 
P. CORTUSOIDES AMCENA :- 
These are most welcome additions to the spring flower borders, or beds, or to 
the greenhouse shelf. By wintering them in a cold pit they will commence to flower 
in March, and have a striking appearance among greenhouse and conservatory 
plants. Their long slender foot-stalk raises them high above double-white 
Chinese Primroses, and, perhaps, there is no position where this tallest among 
Primulas looks more charming than when bending its pretty flower down over the 
white masses of double snowballs which stud the common double-white Chinese 
variety, or such splendid improvements upon it as candidissima, and others. I used 
to think P. cortusoides well worth growing for such uses, but it must at once 
give way to amcena, which is so great an improvement upon it that this, 
the original type, looks weedy beside it. Until I get up as good a stock 
of amcena, I mean to reserve it for inside decoration, and be content with 
P. cortusoides outside. Few plants are more effective in pots, with their exqui¬ 
site tuft of leaves resting on the surface of the pots, and reflexing over their red 
rims, and their stalks rising so elegantly, and the flowers placed so lightly, and 
beyond crowding distance. And then the httle cups are so delicately, tenderly, 
lovely. I have not yet flowered the white varieties, but I believe there is one of 
both sorts ; these, however, will not equal the coloured ones for effect. P. cortu^ 
soides amcena, well grown, would prove a charming single vase plant, or dinner- 
3rd SERIES.-III. K 
