204 On the Species of the Genus Primula in Essex.
between them. The circumstance has a little surprised me,
knowing that most of the stations where P. elatior occurs are
characterised hy an entire absence of P. vulgaris; and although
the former is frequently accompanied by P. veris, I have never
seen or heard of an example of hybridity between them."51
With this exception, I believe P. elatior has not previously been
recorded as hybridizing with the other species in this country.
I first met with plants which I considered to be hybrids
between the Oxlip and the Primrose several years ago, and
have seen them every spring-time since. I have met with
them abundantly in Grim's Ditch and Madghob's Wood, near
Saffron Walden; in the Hyde Wood, Little Yeldham; in
lesser quantities in several other woods; and with introduced
Primroses in a garden at Bardfield. All these localities,
except the last, are on the edge of the Oxlip district, where
the plants are mixed with Primroses, the latter plant, as
already stated, being absent from the district occupied by
P. elatior. It may be objected that I have not proved by
cultivation and experiment as did Darwin,52 that my plants
were hybrids, but I think the following reasons are sufficiently
conclusive :—(a) they never occur in the interior of the elatior
district, but they grow on the verge of that district where the
Oxlips intermingle with Primroses; (b) I have never seen
similar specimens growing away from the Oxlip district;
(c) whenever found, I have seen both parents growing within
a few yards; (d) they are in all respects intermediate between
the two forms; (e) they are certainly not Hybrid Oxlips
(P. veri-vulgaris), from which they are at once distinguished
by their colour, general appearance, and the tight-fitting
calyx—the calyx in the Cowslip and most of its hybrids being
widely inflated; (f) their colour, size, smell, non-overlapping
petals, and contraction of calyx are intermediate between the
parents; (g) among them sometimes may be found examples
51 Darwin states that P. elatior and veris have been known rarely to
hybridize in the Alps. There are specimens at Kew of P. elatiori-vulgaris
from "Le Mont sur Lausanne, 13-4-77," and of P. elatiori-veris labelled
"Sivirriez, near Fribourg, and Rennaz, Vaud, 1374 and 1877."
52 I regret that a number of experimental intercrossings were rendered
useless from a cause over which I had no control.