Cortusa
(named after Jacobo Antonio Cortuso, once Director of the Botanic Garden at Padua; died 1593). Bear's-ear Sanicle. ORD. Primulaceoe. The only species of the genus is a very pretty alpine perennial, very like Primula cortusoides. It thrives in a compost of moist loam, peat, and sand, with a semi-shaded position, if protected from the wind. Propagated by seed, which must be sown as soon as ripe, in a cold frame; also by carefully dividing the roots. Although, for garden purposes, the two plants are here treated as species, C. pubens is a mere form of C. Matthioli.
C. Matthioli (Matthioli's). fl. purple, umbellate, drooping; corolla funnel-shaped or campanulate, with a short tube and sub-erect limb; scape about 6in. high. Early summer. l. petiolate, rotundate, irregularly toothed or lobed. Swiss Alps, 1596. (B. M. 987.) C. M. grandiflora (large-flowered). fl. much larger than in the type, very copious, upon stout peduncles 18in. to 24in. high. l. also much larger. Siberia, 1880. This is a very vigorous variety.
C. pubens (downy). fl. magenta-purple, drooping, on slender peduncles 4in. to 6in. high. May to June. l. stalked, covered with short silky down. Transylvania, 1878. A smaller plant than C. Matthioli.