Primula laurentiana
Primula capillaris
bird's-eye primrose, birdeye primrose, primevère laurentienne
Ruby Mountain primrose, Ruby Mountains 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-oblanceolate, 1–6 × 0.1–0.5 cm, thick, margins entire, apex rounded, 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.
erect, thin, 2–12 mm, length ca. 1–2 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, narrowly campanulate, 4–8 mm;
corolla magenta-violet with bluish tinge, tube 5–8 mm, length 0.9–1.2 times calyx, eglandular basally, sparsely glandular distally, limb 5–8 mm diam., lobes 2–4 mm, apex emarginate.
ellipsoid, length 1.5–2 times calyx.
cylindric, length 1 times calyx.
without flanged edges, reticulate.
unknown.
= 72.
Primula laurentiana
Primula capillaris
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.)
Of conservation concern.
Primula capillaris is narrowly distributed in the alpine tundra of the Ruby Mountains in northern Nevada. It resembles P. angustifolia; it differs in its narrow, upright leaves and smaller flowers with a bluish tint. The plants are the smallest among the species in sect. Parryi and are related to the widespread polymorphic P. cusickiana. Unlike the infraspecific varieties of P. cusickiana, P. capillaris is a morphologically well-differentiated taxon marked by its diminutive, delicate appearance and characteristic leaf shape.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
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