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Key to families | Table of families and genera

This text currently parallels The Jepson Manual: Vascular Plants of California, Second Edition that is now available at the University of California Press.

Text appearing in blue on this page will not appear in the printed book; it will be displayed only on the Web. Specimen numbers are hyperlinked to records in the Consortium of California Herbaria data view where possible. Taxa are hyperlinked to entries in the Jepson Interchange via the "[Online Interchange]" link.

 

PRIMULACEAE PRIMROSE FAMILY

Anita F. Cholewa, except as noted


Annual, perennial herb, glabrous to glandular-hairy.
Leaf: simple, ± basal, petioled or not; stipules 0.
Inflorescence: scapose umbel.
Flower: bisexual, radial; parts generally in 4s or 5s; calyx deeply lobed, often persistent; corolla lobes spreading to reflexed; stamens epipetalous, opposite corolla lobes; ovary superior, 1-chambered, placenta free-central, style 1, stigma head-like.
Fruit: capsule, 2–6-valved or circumscissile.
Seed: small, few to many.
± 9 genera, 600 species: n hemisphere; several ornamental (Dodecatheon, Primula). [Martins et al. 2003 Plant Syst Evol 237:75–85] Based on molecular evidence, non-rosette terrestrial members of Primulaceae as treated in TJM (1993) moved to Myrsinaceae, and Samolus to Theophrastaceae. —Scientific Editor: Thomas J. Rosatti.
Unabridged references: [Källersjö et al. 2000 Amer J Bot 87:1325–1341; Lens et al. 2005 Syst Bot 30:163–183; Martins et al. 2003 Plant Syst Evol 237:75–85; Oberprieler & Hellwig 2003 Plant Syst Evol 237: 75–85; Stähl & Anderberg, in Kubitzki et al. 2004 Fam Generally Vasc Plant 6: 266–281]
Unabridged note: Recent molecular work has redefined Ericales. As delineated by the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group (see http://www.mobot.org/MOBOT/research/APweb/), non-rosette, terrestrial members of Primulaceae s.l. have been removed from that grouping and inserted in Myrsinaceae. Myrsinaceae, then, is characterized by synapomorphies of dark dots or streaks on stems, leaves, or flowers, short corolla tubes, seeds immersed in the placenta, and – for woody members – wood lacking rays or with only multiseriate rays. Primulaceae, Myrsinaceae, Theophrastaceae, and Maesaceae (a new segregate of tropical trees), now constitute a closely related, monophyletic clade.

Key to Primulaceae

1. Corolla lobes reflexed; anthers ± adherent into a cone; leaves generally 12–30 cm ..... DODECATHEON

1' Corolla lobes spreading or erect; anthers free; leaves generally < 8 cm

2. Corolla lobes 1–3 mm ..... ANDROSACE

2' Corolla lobes 5–10 mm ..... PRIMULA

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