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]

SAMOLUS

WATER-PIMPERNEL, BROOKWEED

Perennial, erect, glabrous
Leaves cauline, alternate, petioled or ± sessile, entire
Inflorescence: raceme, terminal
Flower small; parts in 5's; corolla > calyx, white, lobes opposite stamens; stamens 5, alternate 5 stamen-like appendages; ovary partly inferior
Fruit 5-valved, spheric
Species in genus: ± 10 species: ± worldwide
Etymology: (Celtic: from curative properties)

Native

S. parviflorus Raf.

Stem 1.5–4 dm
Leaf 2–5 cm; blade obovate to oblong-lanceolate, generally tapered to winged petiole, tip obtuse to rounded
Inflorescence: pedicels ascending to spreading, 1–2 cm, with 1 bractlet
Flower: calyx 1–2 mm, lobes short, triangular, tooth-like; corolla ± 1.5 mm wide
Fruit ± 2.5 mm wide
Chromosomes: 2n=26
Ecology: Moist sites
Elevation: generally < 1300 m.
Bioregional distribution: San Joaquin Valley, Central Coast, San Francisco Bay Area, South Coast Ranges, South Coast, n Channel Islands, Western Transverse Ranges
Distribution outside California: to British Columbia, e N.America, Mexico, S.America
S. ebracteatus Kunth (lower 4 leaves >> 5 cm; bractlet 0), from Baja CA and Clark Co., NV, expected in extreme se CA
Horticultural information: TRY; STBL.