Primula laurentiana
Primula angustifolia
bird's-eye primrose, birdeye primrose, primevère laurentienne
alpine primrose
not aromatic, indistinctly petiolate;
petiole broadly winged;
blade without deep reticulate veins abaxially, oblanceolate to spatulate, 3–10 × 0.4–1.3 cm, thin, margins crenate, apex obtuse to acute, surfaces glabrous.
not aromatic, indistinctly petiolate;
petiole narrowly winged;
blade without deep reticulate veins abaxially, linear-lanceolate to oblanceolate, 1–1.7 × 0.3–1 cm, thick, margins entire or remotely denticulate, apex spatulate, surfaces glabrous.
3–12-flowered;
involucral bracts saccate, ± equal.
1–2-flowered;
involucral bracts plane, unequal.
erect or spreading, sturdy, 5–10 mm, length ca. 2 times bracts, somewhat flexuous.
arcuate, thin, 3–10 mm, length 2–4 times bracts, flexuous.
homostylous;
calyx green, campanulate, 5–8 mm;
corolla lavender, tube 6–9 mm, length 1.5–2 times calyx, eglandular, limb 10–16 mm diam., lobes 5–8 mm, apex emarginate.
heterostylous;
calyx green, cylindric, 5–8 mm;
corolla usually bright rose-pink, sometimes white, tube 5–8 mm, length 0.8–1 times calyx, usually eglandular basally, sparsely glandular distally, limb (7–)10–15 mm diam., lobes 5–7 mm, apex almost entire or emarginate.
ellipsoid, length 1.5–2 times calyx.
cylindric, length 1 times calyx.
without flanged edges, reticulate.
without flanged edges, reticulate.
= 72.
= 44.
Primula laurentiana
Primula angustifolia
Primula laurentiana is the octoploid member of a polyploid complex of sect. Aleuritia in North America that encompasses ploidy levels from 2x to 14x. It is most similar to the hexaploid P. incana; it differs in its larger flowers, more open inflorescence, and more robust stature. Both species are heavily farinose and have homostylous flowers. The efarinose form described as forma chlorophylla Fernald is a common variant throughout the range of the species. In coastal northeastern Canada, P. laurentiana blends morphologically and ecologically with P. stricta and crossing between the two is likely; assessment of species identity can be difficult here.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Primula angustifolia is a common component of the alpine flora in Colorado and is found occasionally in the mountains of northern New Mexico. A form with white corollas (var. helenae Pollard & Cockerell) occurs in populations with rose-pink corollas. Generally, P. angustifolia grows above treeline; some populations have been found in the upper subalpine zone among dwarf spruce or fir. Individuals in these protected areas tend to be more robust than those growing on exposed, windy sites on the tundra.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
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