PRIMULACEAE

PRIMROSE FAMILY

Anita F. Cholewa and Douglass M. Henderson

Annual, perennial herb, subshrub, glabrous to glandular-hairy
Leaves simple, basal or cauline, alternate, opposite, or whorled, sessile or petioled; stipules 0
Inflorescence sometimes scapose
Flower bisexual, radial; parts generally in 4's or 5's; calyx deeply lobed, often persistent; corolla lobes spreading to reflexed; stamens epipetalous, opposite corolla lobes; ovary generally superior, 1-chambered, placenta basal or free-central, style 1, stigma head-like
Fruit: capsule, circumscissile or 2–6-valved
Seeds small, few–many
Genera in family: ± 25 genera, 600 species: especially n hemisphere; several ornamental (Cyclamen , Dodecatheon , Primula )
Reference: [Channell & Wood 1959 J Arnold Arbor 40:268–288]

PRIMULA

PRIMROSE

Perennial, rhizomed, sometimes stoloned
Leaves basal or crowded on branches near ground, sessile
Inflorescence: umbel 1 per scapose peduncle, terminal, subtended by bracts
Flower: parts in 5's; calyx tube angled; corolla funnel-shaped or salverform, lobes spreading or erect, entire or notched at tip; stamens included, filaments short, anthers oblong, obtuse; ovary superior
Fruit 5-valved, elliptic to ovate
Seeds many, peltate, dotted
Species in genus: 200 species: generally n temp
Etymology: (Latin: diminutive of first, from early flower)
Spp. often heterostylous.

Native

P. suffrutescens A. Gray

SIERRA PRIMROSE

Subshrub
Stem creeping, branched; base woody
Leaf 15–35 mm, ± spoon-shaped, glabrous; base tapered; tip generally rounded, dentate
Inflorescence glandular-hairy; peduncle 3.5–12 cm; pedicels 2–several, < 1.5 cm
Flower: calyx 4–8 mm, lobes lanceolate; corolla magenta with yellow throat, tube 7–10 mm, = lobes
Fruit ± = calyx, ovoid
Chromosomes: 2n=44
Ecology: Generally in rock crevices
Elevation: generally 2000–4200 m.
Bioregional distribution: Klamath Ranges, High Sierra Nevada, East of Sierra Nevada
Flowering time: Jul–Aug
Horticultural information: DRN, IRR: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6; DFCLT.