Primula veris
Primula laurentiana
cowslip primrose
bird's-eye primrose, birdeye primrose, primevère laurentienne
not aromatic, indistinctly or abruptly petiolate;
petiole winged;
blade with deep reticulate veins abaxially, ovate to ovate-oblong, 5–20 × 2–6 cm, thin, membranaceous in age, margins coarsely toothed, apex acute to obtuse, surfaces pubescent, hairs simple.
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.
5–16-flowered;
involucral bracts plane, unequal.
3–12-flowered;
involucral bracts saccate, ± equal.
erect to drooping, moderately thick, 3–20 mm, length 1–3 times bracts, flexuous.
erect or spreading, sturdy, 5–10 mm, length ca. 2 times bracts, somewhat flexuous.
heterostylous;
calyx pale green, broadly campanulate, 0.8–2 cm;
corolla yellow, with orange spots at base of lobes, tube 8–20 mm, length to 1 times calyx, eglandular, limb 8–28 mm diam., lobes 8–14 mm, apex slightly emarginate to distinctly notched.
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.
ovoid, length to 1 times calyx.
ellipsoid, length 1.5–2 times calyx.
without flanged edges, minutely vesiculate.
without flanged edges, reticulate.
= 22 (Europe).
= 72.
Primula veris
Primula laurentiana
Primula veris shows exceptional morphological variation in Europe, with multiple specific and infraspecific names. It is a popular garden plant both here and in Europe; horticultural varieties abound and are almost certainly represented among the records from North America.
(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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