Primula suffrutescens
Primula laurentiana
Sierra primrose, Sierran primrose
bird's-eye primrose, birdeye primrose, primevère laurentienne
not aromatic, indistinctly petiolate;
petiole winged;
blade without deep reticulate veins abaxially, cuneate-spatulate, 4 × 0.5–1 cm, succulent, margins crenate to dentate with 6–8 teeth, apex obtuse, 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.
2–9-flowered;
involucral bracts plane at base, unequal.
3–12-flowered;
involucral bracts saccate, ± equal.
erect, thin, 4–12 mm, length 2–4 times bracts, stiff.
erect or spreading, sturdy, 5–10 mm, length ca. 2 times bracts, somewhat flexuous.
heterostylous;
calyx green, urceolate, 4–8 mm;
corolla rose-pink, tube 6–10 mm, length 2 times calyx, glandular, limb 10–20 mm diam., lobes 5–10 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.
globose, length 0.7–0.8 times calyx.
ellipsoid, length 1.5–2 times calyx.
with flanged edges, reticulate.
without flanged edges, reticulate.
= 44.
= 72.
Primula suffrutescens
Primula laurentiana
Primula suffrutescens is unusual in the genus, and unique among North American representatives, in forming mats with semiwoody stems carrying withered remains of old leaves on the lower portions of the stems, and evergreen leaf clusters on the distal portions.
(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.)
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