 Primula Veris
The Cowslip
[ Reprinted from the Fall 1962 Quarterly]
The popular name of the cowslip is P. Veris, or it is often listed
as P. veris var. officianalis, but whatever its botanical name, the
name cowslip has been known almost as long as history has recorded
itself. The name may have come from an ancient Anglo-Saxon name; it
has been found in old documents as early as 1440. Shakespeare spoke
of it as early as 1592 and since then it has been featured all
through the life and writings of British people. In olden times
cowslips were used extensively in the practice of medicine and were
important in many early legends. The cowslip is more commonly found
than the oxlip (P. elatior). It ranges from Northern Africa to
Siberia and from Eastern Asia to Western Europe.
Cowslips and oxlips are so nearly allied that in practically every
planting there will be specimens impossible to place definitely in
either group. The cowslip, in most cases, has a one-sided umbel with
nodding or drooping flowers, it is generally fragrant and the
individual flowers are cupped, not flat, disk shaped flowers. They
are bright yellow with a tiny brilliant red or orange spot at the
base of each petal. While both cowslips and oxlips have a papery
calyx, the cowslip calyx often is much more pubescent, with fine,
almost microscopic hairs covering it. The cowslip has not as great a
tendency to change color as the oxlip, but in a planting of various
colored oxlips, many may be found that closely resemble cowslips.
The leaves of both oxlips and cowslips do not differ considerably
from those of P. acaulis. A softer, gray-green color, a smoother or
narrower leaf may tell the experienced gardener which is which. Both
the cowslips and oxlips frequently develop abnormal forms, many of
which have been vegetatively increased. These varieties have always
been highly prized by primula growers. Many have disappeared
gradually and those that have survived are generally collector’s
pieces. There is one, however, that is fairly common as its habits
have been sufficiently fixed to reproduce seeds, a good proportion
of which come true to form. This is the quaint hose-in-hose variety.
The name hose-in-hose originally came from the resemblance of the
calyx to the stockings worn by men in the Elizabethan age. The form
is unusual, one flower growing from the center of another, making a
chain of flowers, In fact, some new costume jewelry must have been
copied from the style set by hose-in-hose. These grow easily from
seeds and many colors are produced.
There is another form called Galligaskins, .also associated with the
hose worn in the sixteenth century. In these the ribs of the
inflated calyx are more projecting and instead of the usual corolla
there is a flower-like arrangement of green leaves, curled and
wrinkled, from which a colored bloom emerges.
Jack-in-the-green, Jack-in-the-box, or Pantaloons are names given to
still another abnormal form. In this the flower comes from a calyx
bulging at the top instead of the middle, forming a funnel. Both
flower and calyx are the same color and the ribs of the calyx each
have a line of green. Green primroses have no calyx, and the
corollas, with the ordinary shape of a primrose corolla, is green.
Occasionally a sport of Jack-in-the-green may not have the colored
corolla coming from the green ruff, and this too is called a “green
primrose.”
Cowslips and oxlips should always be included in the list of flowers
for children’s gardens, not only because of their modest,
unpretending aspect but because of the legends connected with them.
Cowslips have always been cups where 8" fairies lived - “Fairy
Cups.” They have been called “St. Peter’s Keys” because of their
resemblance to a bunch of keys. Their willingness to grow in all
places with little care is another reason why they are valuable to
beginners.
Photo Credit: Robert Tonkin of red form P. veris grown by and in
the garden of Pam Finney
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