Primula specuicola
Primula laurentiana
alcove primrose, cave primrose, cave-dwelling primrose
bird's-eye primrose, birdeye primrose, primevère laurentienne
not aromatic, indistinctly petiolate;
petiole broadly winged;
blade without deep reticulate veins abaxially, spatulate, 8–15 × 2 cm, thin, margins irregularly and sharply dentate to sinuate-dentate, apex obtuse to acute, surfaces glabrous.
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.
(6–)10–25-flowered;
involucral bracts plane, ± equal.
3–12-flowered;
involucral bracts saccate, ± equal.
erect, thin, 10–30 mm, length 2–5 times bracts, flexuous.
erect or spreading, sturdy, 5–10 mm, length ca. 2 times bracts, somewhat flexuous.
heterostylous;
calyx green, campanulate, 3–5 mm;
corolla lavender, tube 8–10 mm, length 2 times calyx, eglandular, limb 10–16 mm diam., lobes 5–8 mm, apex emarginate.
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.
ellipsoid, length 1–2 times calyx.
ellipsoid, length 1.5–2 times calyx.
without flanged edges, reticulate.
without flanged edges, reticulate.
= 18.
= 72.
Primula specuicola
Primula laurentiana
Primula specuicola has relatively large corollas, relatively long pedicels, and irregularly and sharply dentate to sinuate-dentate leaves with conspicuous farina. It is a characteristic member of hanging-garden communities along the canyon walls of the Colorado River and its tributaries. Plants with a more exserted capsule were given the name P. hunnewellii; this appears to be only a minor variant that does not warrant infraspecific recognition.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
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.)
SW CO Wildflowers
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USDA Plants Database
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