THE IMPERIAL PRIMROSE.

Otago Witness, 1 June 1910, Page 10

THE IMPERIAL PRIMROSE.

The largest known primrose (P. impexiaiis) is a native of the summits of xS& loftiest mountains in Java at 3000 ft to 9000 ft elevation, where it was discovered more tba.r half a century ago. It was first seen, in this country (says the Field) in 1891, when it flowered at K«w, having been raised from seeds and grown in an odointoglossum house, the conditions in which were evidently to its liking. But it has always been a rare plant, and we are therefore delighted to learn that it has found a congenial home in South Cornwall, Messrs R. G. Gill and Sons, Himalaya nurseries, Falmouth, having raised a large batch of plants from imported seeds. A photograph of the plant shows them to be as happy and robust as cabbages, growing in an open border under conditions favourable to Himalayan rhododendrons. One of them was shown at the R.H.S. meeting, and with its large handsome foliage springing from a base as thick as a man's wrist it formed a picture of health such as delighted the heart of primula fanciers. When

THE IMPERIAL PRIMROSE. the plants flower, as they will shortly, they are likely to enable us to realise to- the full the imperial character of this primrose, which is described by Wallace in his "Malay Archipelago" as having leaves 18in long' and a flower stem more than 3ft high, bearing crowded whorls of deep yellow cowislip-like flowers.