Primula suffrutescens
Primula tschuktschorum
Sierra primrose, Sierran primrose
Chukchi primrose
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 winged;
blade without deep reticulate veins abaxially, linear-lanceolate, 4–5 × 0.2–0.4 cm, fleshy, margins entire or remotely denticulate, apex acute, surfaces glabrous.
2–9-flowered;
involucral bracts plane at base, unequal.
1–3(–6)-flowered;
involucral bracts plane at base, ± equal.
erect, thin, 4–12 mm, length 2–4 times bracts, stiff.
erect to slightly reflexed, somewhat thick, 2–10 mm, length ca. 1–2 times bracts, 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.
heterostylous;
calyx green or greenish black, campanulate, 5–7 mm;
corolla rose-magenta, tube 5–7 mm, length 1 times calyx, eglandular, limb 10–20 mm diam., lobes 5–10 mm, apex unlobed or rarely cleft to base.
globose, length 0.7–0.8 times calyx.
broadly cylindric, length 2 times calyx.
with flanged edges, reticulate.
without flanged edges, vesiculate.
= 44.
= 22.
Primula suffrutescens
Primula tschuktschorum
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 tschuktschorum has a long history of taxonomic confusion with its close relative P. pumila, from which it is distinguished by its heterostylous flowers, more delicate appearance, and lack of farina. It appears to be restricted in North America to the Bering Strait region of Alaska between the Seward Peninsula and Bristol Bay, where it grows occasionally in coastal areas and more commonly at higher elevations in the mountains around late-lying snowbanks.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
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iNaturalist
USDA Plants Database
