T HE Polyanthus is twin-sister to the Auricula, and both 
of them belong to the primrose clan. The former is 
the hardier, but less admired, of the twain, and will survive 
the coldest and wettest seasons. Like all the plants of its 
genus, it is an early blower, being one of the first flowers that 
welcome in the spring. 
“The polyanthus of unnumbered dyes,” as Thomson calls 
it in his “ Seasons,” is asserted to be merely a variety of the 
field-primrose, produced by the skill of the gardener. It was 
known, however, to the ancients by the name of “ Paralisos,” 
and was believed to have sprung from the ashes of a youth of 
that name, who pined to death for the loss of Melicerta, who, 
to escape the mad fury of Anthamas, King of Thebes, plunged 
into the sea and was drowned. 
The Auricula, significant of a whisper, was formerly known 
to botanists as Auricula ursi, or “bear’s ear,” from the shape 
of its leaves : it was also formerly spoken of as “mountain cow¬ 
slip.” Perhaps there is no flower that has received more tender 
care from cultivators than the auricula : they have waited upon 
and watched over it like a mother over her infant; and won¬ 
derful are the effects education has produced upon it. In its 
original state it is either yellow or white, and the skill of the 
florist has brought it to its present rich hues of brown or 
purple, sometimes edged with green or centred with gold. 
Thomson talks of 
“ Auriculas, enrich’d 
With shining meal o’er all their velvet leaves.” 
The author of “ Flora Domestica ” states that this plant has 
