Primula laurentiana
Primula cusickiana
bird's-eye primrose, birdeye primrose, primevère laurentienne
Cusick's primrose, Wallowa 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 winged;
blade without deep reticulate veins abaxially, lanceolate to spatulate, 1–4 × 0.3–1.8(–2.3) cm, thick, margins almost entire or somewhat dentate, apex obtuse or acute, surfaces glabrous.
3–12-flowered;
involucral bracts saccate, ± equal.
2–8-flowered;
involucral bracts plane, unequal.
erect or spreading, sturdy, 5–10 mm, length ca. 2 times bracts, somewhat flexuous.
erect to arcuate, thin, 2–25(–35) 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, sometimes with farinose stripes on ridges, narrowly campanulate, 5–11 mm;
corolla rose to magenta-violet, tube 7–14 mm, length 1–2 times calyx, glandular or eglandular, limb to 10–25 mm diam., lobes 5–10 mm, apex emarginate.
ellipsoid, length 1.5–2 times calyx.
ovoid, length 1 times calyx.
without flanged edges, reticulate.
unknown.
= 72.
Primula laurentiana
Primula cusickiana
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.)
Varieties 4 (4 in the flora).
Throughout the Great Basin and Intermountain Region, Primula cusickiana exhibits local variation. With the exception of P. capillaris, the members of the P. cusickiana complex are treated as varieties distinguished somewhat arbitrarily by morphological differences; geographic distribution and ecology also separate them. Genetic studies using nuclear ITS and ETS sequences, cpDNA and AFLPs (S. Kelso et al. unpubl.; A. R. Mast et al. 2004) support the close relationships in this clade and to P. capillaris. This infraspecific taxonomic recognition does not diminish their biological importance as isolated endemics almost certainly relictual from the last Ice Age and now restricted to diminishing alpine habitat islands of the Intermountain Region. Given their limited distributions and habitat, which is often threatened by climatic or anthropogenic factors, all representatives of this complex should be considered of conservation concern.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
1. Plants glabrous except for white farina on involucral bracts and calyces | → 2 |
1. Plants glandular-pubescent, at least in inflorescences, white-farinose on involucral bracts and calyces | → 3 |
2. Corolla tube length 1-1.5 times calyx. | var. cusickiana |
2. Corolla tube length usually ca. 2 times calyx. | var. maguirei |
3. Corolla tube length 1.5+ times calyx, 8-14 mm. | var. domensis |
3. Corolla tube length to 1.5 times calyx, 7-10 mm. | var. nevadensis |
Go Botany
WildflowerSearch
iNaturalist
USDA Plants Database
OR
CalFlora
Flora NW
PNW Herbaria
