Jepson Herbarium
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Indexes to all accepted names and synonyms: | A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z |

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

Perennial, glabrous or glandular-hairy; roots fleshy- fibrous.
Inflorescence: umbel subtended by involucre.
Flower: nodding; sepals reflexed, later erect, persistent; corolla tube short, generally not covering anther bases, lobes reflexed, often with white and/or yellow and/or dark purple base; filaments very short, wide, often fused, anthers ± lanceolate, exserted, erect, ± adherent into a cone around style; ovary superior, style slender, ± exserted from anthers.
Fruit: ± 5-valved or circumscissile, oblong-ovate to cylindric.
± 15 species: generally North America. (Greek: 12 gods, presumably the Olympians) [Mast & Reveal 2007 Brittonia 59:79–82] Monophyletic genus closest to Primula subg. Auriculastrum and recently treated in Primula (Mast & Reveal 2007); polyploid group; species often intergrade; "anther connective" refers to tissue between pollen sacs, especially near base; dehiscence must be determined on fruit that has aged and dried naturally, because e.g., green fruit of circumscissile taxa (e.g., Dodecatheon clevelandii) sometimes split longitudinally as a result of pressing and thereby may appear valved. For another, in some cases different, treatment of genus, see Reveal 2009 FNANM 8:268–271.
Unabridged references: [Thompson 1953 Contr Dudley Herb 4:73–154; Mast et al. 2004 Amer J Bot 91: 926–942]

Plant glabrous except stem, inflorescence glandular-hairy.
Stem: 10–60 cm.
Leaf: 9–50 cm; blade linear-oblanceolate to oblanceolate, generally tapered to petiole, entire to crenate.
Inflorescence: 3–18-flowered.
Flower: parts in 4s or 5s; corolla lobes 10–25 mm, magenta to lavender or white; filaments free or partly fused, generally < 1.5 mm, anthers 6.5–11 mm, connective wrinkled, generally dark purple; stigma enlarged.
Fruit: circumscissile or with valves, sometimes both on 1 plant.
2n=42,43,44, 66,86. Moist to dry meadows, streambanks; 600–3000 m. Northwestern California (except North Coast), Cascade Range, Sierra Nevada, Modoc Plateau;

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Citation for the whole project: Jepson Flora Project (eds.) [year] Jepson eFlora, http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/IJM.html [accessed on month, day, year]
Citation for an individual treatment: [Author of taxon treatment] [year]. [Taxon name] in Jepson Flora Project (eds.) Jepson eFlora, [URL for treatment]. Accessed on [month, day, year].

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Bioregions in which taxon occurs	Red area (if present) is the part of the bioregion lying between the upper and lower elevation limits of the taxon; markers link to CCH specimen records. If the markers are obscured, reload the page [or change window size and reload]. Yellow markers indicate records that may have georeferencing or identification issues.
Chart based on elevation range in Manual and elevations and coordinates of CCH records. Data provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria. Note: About half of the CCH records include both elevation and coordinates.	Map made in collaboration with Scott Loarie. Data provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria. View all CCH records   CCH collections by month Duplicates counted once; synonyms included. Species do not include records of infraspecific taxa. Blue line denotes Manual flowering time.