Leaves oblong, involute, more transparent than in P.
vulgaris, but less than in P . lusitanica, and having occasionally
a purplish tinge. Scape (2—4 inches high) nearly
smooth, shining. Calyx bilabiate, glabrous; upper lip of
three teeth; lower lip emarginate ; both afterwards more
deeply divided; corolla yellow, rather larger than in P.
lusitanica, bilabiate, tube on the inside striated with green ;
upper lip notched; lower retuse, larger, and more prominent
than the other, covered within at the base with erect,
coarse, yellowish, jointed hairs; spur conical, shorter than
the segments of the corolla. Stamens included ; filaments
stout, glabrous, somewhat twisted and bent; anthers
nearly round, yellow, opening by a line across their upper
surface. Pistil included; germen green and subglobular,
slightly glanduloso-pubescent; style colourless, flattened,
glabrous; stigma bilabiate, segments large, revolute,
fringed, pubescent on the outside, the lower lip covering
the anthers.
The specimen here figured was received from my friend
Mr. Stables, who, having accompanied Mr. Gordon to the
spot, on the 19th of April, found the plant coming into
flower. It has since expanded at the Botanic Garden under
a shaded cold frame.
Some confusion regarding this species may arise from
Persoon adopting the specific name of P . alpestris; while
under P . alpina, as a distinct plant, he refers to Eng. Bot.
t. 145, which is an exceeding good figure of P . lusitanica,
from which species indeed he also refers to the same Plate.
R. G raham, M.D.
Edinburgh, May 28th, 1832.
Fig. 1, corolla ; 2, section of the same ; 3, calyx, and
anther, the latter covered by the lower lip of the stigma;
4, capsule crowned by the style and fringed stigma; 5, anther
; 6, jointed pubescence from the inside of the lower
lip :—all more or less magnified, except fig. 1.