PRIMULA (ML., fem. of Lat. primulas, di minutive of prim us. first; so called in allusion to the early bloom), PRIMROSE. A genus of plants of the natural order Primulacex, comprising about 150 species, mostly perennials, generally having only radical leaves and bearing the flow ers in an umbel, more rarely solitary, on a scapc. This genus is indigenous to Asia and Europe and more than half the number of species are native to the Himalayas, China, and Japan. Two small unimportant species are found in North America. Their fine colors and -soft, delicate beauty have led to the cultivation of some of the species. and numerous varieties and hybrid forms with single and double flowers of various tints have been de veloped. They are extensively grown in orna mental gardening and also as house and conser vatory plants. The common primrose (Primu la rulyaris) is abundant in woods, hedges, and meadows in most parts of Europe. It has spoon shaped and deeply veined leaves and bears its yellowish-white blossoms on single-flowered, seapes. It is the parent species of many culti vated varieties. The name primrose belongs es pecially to this species. The English cowslip (Primula ollieinalis) is allied to the common primrose, and the oxlip (Primula elatior) is an intermediate between the two species. The Chinese primrose (Primula sinensis) is a popular ornamental plant in residences and con servatories and is commonly sold in flower mar kets. It is highly prized for its numerous large
flowers of a variety of colors borne in umbels above the foliage. Primula obconica is an other beautiful Chinese species largely grown in conservatories for its numerous pale lilac or purple and sometimes nearly white blossoms.
The garden primroses prefer a rich, moist, loamy soil, and shady positions. The greenhouse varie ties are potted in light soil chiefly composed of leaf mold with some sand and loam. The varie ties grown in the open are propagated by seed or by dividing the clumps. The seed is sown out of doors in summer, preferably in pans; the young plants are potted and kept in a cold frame or the greenhouse over winter. In the spring the plants are set out in the pots where desired. Sometimes strong seedlings are planted in the open directly from the seed ',ans. The tender varieties grown under glass are also increased by seeds and offsets started in the greenhouse. The name primrose has reference to the early flower ing of the plants of this genns. See AURICULA POLYANTHUS; and Colored Plate of GREEN HOUSE PLANTS. In America certain species of (Enothera (q.v.) are called evening primrose.