Primula

Primula (/ˈprɪmjʊlə/)[1] is a genus of herbaceous[2] flowering plants in the family Primulaceae. They include the primrose (P. vulgaris), a familiar wildflower of banks and verges. Other common species are P. auricula (auricula), P. veris (cowslip), and P. elatior (oxlip). These species and many others are valued for their ornamental flowers. They have been extensively cultivated and hybridised (in the case of the primrose, for many hundreds of years). Primula are native to the temperate Northern Hemisphere, south into tropical mountains in Ethiopia, Indonesia, and New Guinea, and in temperate southern South America. Almost half of the known species are from the Himalayas.[2]

For other uses, see Primula (disambiguation).

Primula
Primula vulgaris
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Ericales
Family: Primulaceae
Subfamily: Primuloideae
Genus: Primula
L.
Type species
Primula veris L.
Synonyms
  • Aleuritia (Duby) Opiz
  • Aretia Link
  • Auganthus Link
  • Auricula Hill
  • Auricula-ursi Ség.
  • Cankrienia de Vriese
  • Carolinella Hemsl.
  • × Cortoprimula Zeman
  • Cortusa L.
  • Dodecatheon L.
  • Evotrochis Raf.
  • Exinia Raf.
  • Kablikia Opiz
  • Meadia Mill.
  • Oscaria Lilja
  • Paralysis Hill
  • Primulidium Spach
  • Sredinskya (Stein) Fed.

Primula has over 500 species in traditional treatments, and more if certain related genera are included within its circumscription.[3]

Description

Primula is a complex and varied genus, with a range of habitats from alpine slopes to boggy meadows. Plants bloom mostly during the spring, with flowers often appearing in spherical umbels on stout stems arising from basal rosettes of leaves; their flowers can be purple, yellow, red, pink, blue, or white. Some species show a white mealy bloom (farina) on various parts of the plant.[2] Many species are adapted to alpine climates.

Taxonomy

Primula was known at least as early as the mediaeval herbalists, although first formally described as a genus by Linnaeus in 1753,[4] and later in 1754 in his Flora Anglica. Linnaeus described seven species of Primula. One of its earliest scientific treatments was that of Charles Darwin study of heterostyly in 1877 (The different forms of flowers on plants of the same species). Since then, heterostyly (and homostyly) have remained important considerations in the taxonomic classification of Primula.[5][6] Primula is a member of the Primulaceae family. The most complete treatment of the family, with nearly 1000 species arranged into 22 genera, was by Pax and Knuth in 1905.[7]

Phylogeny

Primula is the largest genus in the family Primulaceae, within which it is placed in the subfamily Primuloideae, being the nominative genus.[8]

The position of Primula within the family and its relationship to other genera is shown in this cladogram:

  Primulaceae s.l.  
Maesoideae

Maesa

  Theophrastaceae  

Clavija

Samolus

Primulaceae

Primula

  Myrsinaceae  

Lysimachia

Myrsine

Classification

The genus Dodecatheon originated from within Primula, its species are now included in Primula.[9]

Sections of genus Primula

The classification of the genus Primula has been investigated by botanists for over a century. As the genus is both large and diverse (with about 430–500 species), botanists have organized the species in various sub-generic groups. The most common is division into a series of thirty sections.[10][11] Some of these sections (e.g. Vernales, Auricula) contain many species; others contain only one.

  • Amethystina
  • Auricula
  • Bullatae
  • Candelabra
  • Capitatae
  • Carolinella
  • Cortusoides
  • Cuneifolia
  • Denticulata
  • Dryadifolia
  • Farinosae
  • Floribundae
  • Grandis
  • Malacoidea
  • Malvacea
  • Minutissimae
  • Muscaroides
  • Nivales
  • Obconica
  • Parryi
  • Petiolares
  • Pinnatae
  • Pycnoloba
  • Reinii
  • Rotundifolia
  • Sikkimensis
  • Sinenses
  • Soldanelloideae
  • Souliei
  • Vernales

Selected species
Main article: List of Primula species

Species include:[12][13][14]

Primula algida
Primula auriantaca
Primula beesiana
Primula capitata ssp. mooreana
Primula clarkei
Primula denticulata
Primula elatior (oxlip)
Primula florindae
Primula glutinosa
Primula helodoxa
Primula japonica
  • Primula gambeliana
  • Primula gemmifera
  • Primula geraniifolia
  • Primula giraldiana
  • Primula glabra
  • Primula glaucescens
  • Primula glomerata
  • Primula glutinosa
  • Primula gracilenta
  • Primula gracillipes
  • Primula griffithii
  • Primula halleri (long-flowered primrose, Haller's primrose)
  • Primula helodoxa
  • Primula hendersonii (broad-leaved shootingstar, Henderson's shootingstar, mosquito-bill, sailor caps)
  • Primula heucherifolia
  • Primula hirsuta (stinking primrose)
  • Primula hookeri
  • Primula incana (silvery primrose, mealy primrose)
  • Primula interjacens
  • Primula involucrata
  • Primula ioessa
  • Primula irregularis
  • Primula japonica (Japanese primrose, Japanese cowslip)
  • Primula jesoana
  • Primula jigmediana
  • Primula juliae (Julia's primrose, purple primrose)
  • Primula kingii
  • Primula kisoana
  • Primula kitaibeliana (Kitaibel's primrose)
  • Primula klattii
  • Primula laurentiana (birdseye primrose)
  • Primula lihengiana[20]
Primula marginata
Primula megaseifolia
Primula prolifera
Primula rosea
Primula sieboldii
  • Primula munroi
  • Primula muscarioides
  • Primula nipponica
  • Primula nivalis (snowy primrose)
  • Primula obconica (poison primrose, German primrose)
  • Primula orbicularis
Primula veris
Primula vialii
Primula × pubescens

Etymology

The word primula is the Latin feminine diminutive of primus, meaning first (prime), applied to flowers that are among the first to open in spring.[28]

Ecology

Primulas are used as a food plant by the Duke of Burgundy butterfly.[29]

Distribution and habitat

Although there are over 400 species of Primula, about 75% are found in the eastern Himalayan mountain chain and western China (Yunnan Province), constituting a centre of diversity. Other centres of diversity are a western Asian centre (Caucasus, European mountain ranges from the Pyrenees, through the Alps to the Carpathian Mountains), mountains of East Asia and those of western North America. Primula is found in mountainous or higher latitude zones of North America, Europe, and Asia, with extension into South America, Africa (mountains of Ethiopia) and tropical Asia (islands of Java and Sumatra).[5][8] About 25 species occur in North America (represented in five sections).[30]

Primula is found in the humid and moderate climate regions of the Northern Hemisphere, predominantly in the forest belt, plain meadows, Alpine lawns, and nival and meadow tundras.[8]

Garden hybrids and cultivars

Primula species have been extensively cultivated and hybridised, mainly derived from P. elatior, P. juliae, P. veris and P. vulgaris. Polyanthus (Primula × polyantha) is one such group of plants, which has produced a large variety of strains in all colours, usually grown as annuals or biennials and available as seeds or young plants.[31]

Another huge range of cultivars, known as auriculas, are derived from crosses between P. auricula and P. hirsuta (among others). Specialist nurseries and auricula societies[32] support the growing and showing of these choice strains.

AGM cultivars

The following hybrid varieties and cultivars have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit:-[33]

  • 'Broadwell Milkmaid' (auri)[34]
  • Charisma series (prim)[35]
  • 'Clarence Elliott' (auri)[36]
  • Crescendo Series (poly)
    • 'Crescendo Blue Shades'[37]
    • 'Crescendo Bright Red'[38]
    • 'Crescendo Pink and Rose Shades'[39]
  • Danova Series (prim)[40]
  • 'Francisca' (poly)[42]
  • 'Guinevere' (poly)[43]
  • Primula × loiseleurii 'Aire Mist' (auri)[44]
  • Primula × pubescens (auri)[45]
  • 'Tony' (auri)[46]
  • 'Wanda' (prim)[47]

Hybrids
  • Primula × kewensis=P. floribunda × P. verticillata (Kew primrose)[27]
  • Primula × polyantha=P. veris × P. vulgaris (false oxlip, polyanthus primula)[48]
  • Primula × pubescens=P. hirsuta × P. auricula

References
  1. Sunset Western Garden Book. 1995. pp. 606–07.
  2. RHS A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants. United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. 2008. p. 1136. ISBN 978-1405332965.
  3. "Primula in Flora of North America @ efloras.org". www.efloras.org. Archived from the original on October 13, 2013. Retrieved 2023-02-19.
  4. Linnaeus 1753.
  5. Mast et al 2001.
  6. Gilmartin 2015.
  7. Martins et al 2003.
  8. Kovtonyuk & Goncharov 2009.
  9. Weakley, A. S. (2008). "Flora of the Carolinas, Virginia, and Georgia, and Surrounding Areas". Archived from the original on 2018-10-06. Retrieved 2009-06-08. UNC Herbarium, North Carolina Botanical Garden, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
  10. Ingwersen, Will (1986) [1978]. Ingwersen's Manual of Alpine Plants. Portland: Timber Press. ISBN 978-0-88192-026-0.
  11. Green, Roy (1986) [1976]. Asiatic Primulas. Woking, Surrey, UK: Alpine Garden Society.
  12. "Primula". www.efloras.org. Archived from the original on October 15, 2013. Retrieved 2023-02-19.
  13. "Primula". www.efloras.org. Archived from the original on October 13, 2013. Retrieved 2023-02-19.
  14. GRIN Species Records of Primula. Archived 2015-09-24 at the Wayback Machine Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN).
  15. Basak, S. K. and G. G. Maiti. 2000. Primula arunachalensis sp. nov. (Primulaceae) from the Eastern Himalaya. Acta Phytotax. Geobot. 51(1) 11-15.
  16. Ming, H. C. and G. Y. Ying. (2003). Two new species of Primula (Primulaceae) from China. Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine Novon 13 196-199.
  17. Xun, G. and F. Rhui-cheng. (2003). Primula calyptrata, a new species in section Carolinella (Primulaceae) from Yunnan, China. Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine Novon 13 193-95.
  18. "The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 24 June 2010. 24 June 2010. Retrieved 2018-11-15.
  19. Hu, C. M.; Hao, G. (June 2011). "New and Noteworthy Species of Primula (Primulaceae) from China". Edinburgh Journal of Botany. 68 (2): 297–300. doi:10.1017/S096042861100014X. ISSN 1474-0036.
  20. Li, R. and C. M. Hu. (2009). Primula lihengiana (Primulaceae), a new species from Yunnan, China. Archived 2014-10-23 at the Wayback Machine Annales Botanici Fennici 46(2) 130-32
  21. Rankin, David W. H. (2012). "726. Primula Melanantha". Curtis's Botanical Magazine. 29: 18–33. doi:10.1111/j.1467-8748.2012.01768.x.
  22. Rix, Martyn (2005). "529. Primula Moupinensis. Primulaceae". Curtis's Botanical Magazine. 22 (2): 119–123. doi:10.1111/j.1355-4905.2005.00477.x.
  23. "The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 10 September 2008. 10 September 2008. Retrieved 2018-11-15.
  24. "The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 23 June 2010. 23 June 2010. Retrieved 2018-11-15.
  25. "The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 13 January 2011. 13 January 2011. Retrieved 2018-11-15.
  26. Chi-Ming, H. (1994). "New Taxa and Combinations in Chinese Primulaceae". Novon. 4 (2): 103–105. doi:10.2307/3391576. JSTOR 3391576. Retrieved 2023-02-19.
  27. Primula verticillata (yellow primrose). Archived 2012-09-05 at the Wayback Machine Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
  28. Coombes, Allen J. (2012). The A to Z of Plant Names. USA: Timber Press. pp. 242. ISBN 9781604691962.
  29. "UK Butterflies - Larval Foodplants". Archived from the original on 2017-05-01. Retrieved 2017-04-24.
  30. Kelso 1991.
  31. Reader's Digest Encyclopedia of Garden Plants & Flowers, 2nd edition. United Kingdom: Reader's Digest Association. 1978.
  32. "Welcome to The National Auricula & Primula Society: Midland & West Section". National Auricula Society. Archived from the original on 26 January 2021. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
  33. "AGM Plants - Ornamental" (PDF). Royal Horticultural Society. July 2017. p. 81. Archived (PDF) from the original on 5 January 2018. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
  34. "Primula 'Broadwell Milkmaid'". RHS. Archived from the original on 13 April 2022. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
  35. "Primula 'Charisma Series'". RHS. Archived from the original on 13 April 2022. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
  36. "Primula 'Clarence Elliott'". RHS. Archived from the original on 13 April 2022. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
  37. "RHS Plant Selector - Primula 'Crescendo Blue Shades'". Archived from the original on 13 April 2022. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
  38. "RHS Plant Selector - Primula 'Crescendo Bright Red'". Archived from the original on 13 April 2022. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
  39. "RHS Plant Selector - Primula 'Crescendo Pink and Rose Shades'". Archived from the original on 13 April 2022. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
  40. "RHS Plant Selector - Primula Danova Series". Archived from the original on 13 April 2022. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
  41. "RHS Plant Selector - Primula 'Danova Rose'". Archived from the original on 13 April 2022. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
  42. "Primula 'Francisca'". RHS. Archived from the original on 13 April 2022. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
  43. "RHS Plant Selector - Primula 'Guinevere'". Archived from the original on 7 July 2021. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
  44. "Primula × loiseleurii 'Aire Mist'". RHS. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
  45. "Primula × pubescens". RHS. Archived from the original on 13 April 2022. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
  46. "Primula 'Tony'". RHS. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
  47. "RHS Plant Selector - Primula 'Wanda'". Archived from the original on 27 November 2020. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
  48. "Primula × polyantha". Germplasm Resources Information Network. Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 12 December 2017.

Bibliography

Species

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