Primula

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Genus of flowering plants

title: "Primula" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["primula", "garden-plants", "primulaceae-genera", "botanical-taxa-named-by-carl-linnaeus"] description: "Genus of flowering plants" topic_path: "general/primula" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Primula" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Genus of flowering plants ::

|image=Prolećno cveće 3.JPG |image_caption=Primula vulgaris |taxon=Primula |authority=L. (1753) |subdivision_ranks = Species |subdivision = 528; see text |subdivision_ref = |synonyms=

  • Aleuritia (Duby) Opiz
  • Aretia Link
  • Auganthus Link
  • Auricula Hill
  • Auricula-ursi Ség.
  • Cankrienia de Vriese
  • Carolinella Hemsl.
  • × Cortoprimula Zeman
  • Cortusa L.
  • Dodecatheon L.
  • Evotrochis Raf.
  • Exinia Raf.
  • Kablikia Opiz
  • Meadia Mill.
  • Oscaria Lilja
  • Paralysis Hill
  • Primulidium Spach
  • Sredinskya (Stein) Fed. |type_species=Primula veris L.

Primula () is a genus of herbaceous flowering plants in the family Primulaceae. They include the primrose (P. vulgaris), a familiar wildflower of banks and verges. Other common species are P. auricula (auricula), P. veris (cowslip), and P. elatior (oxlip). These species and many others are valued for their ornamental flowers. They have been extensively cultivated and hybridised (in the case of the primrose, for many hundreds of years). Primula are native to the temperate Northern Hemisphere, south into tropical mountains in Ethiopia, Indonesia, and New Guinea, and in temperate southern South America. Almost half of the known species are from the Himalayas.

Primula has over 500 species in traditional treatments, and more if certain related genera are included within its circumscription.

Description

Primula is a complex and varied genus, with a range of habitats from alpine slopes to boggy meadows. Plants bloom mostly during the spring, with flowers often appearing in spherical umbels on stout stems arising from basal rosettes of leaves; their flowers can be purple, yellow, red, pink, blue, or white. Some species show a white mealy bloom (farina) on various parts of the plant. Many species are adapted to alpine climates.

Taxonomy

Primula was known at least as early as the mediaeval herbalists, although first formally described as a genus by Linnaeus in 1753, and later in 1754 in his Flora Anglica. Linnaeus described seven species of Primula. One of its earliest scientific treatments was that of Charles Darwin study of heterostyly in 1877 (The different forms of flowers on plants of the same species). Since then, heterostyly (and homostyly) have remained important considerations in the taxonomic classification of Primula. Primula is a member of the Primulaceae family. The most complete treatment of the family, with nearly 1000 species arranged into 22 genera, was by Pax and Knuth in 1905.

Phylogeny

Primula is the largest genus in the family Primulaceae, within which it is placed in the subfamily Primuloideae, being the nominative genus.

The position of Primula within the family and its relationship to other genera is shown in this cladogram: |label1=Primulaceae s.l. |1={{clade |label1=Maesoideae |1=Maesa |label2=Theophrastaceae |2={{clade |1=Clavija |2=Samolus |label3=Primulaceae |3={{clade |1=Primula |label2=Myrsinaceae |2={{clade |1=Lysimachia |2=Myrsine

Classification

The genus Dodecatheon originated from within Primula, its species are now included in Primula.

Sections of genus ''Primula''

The classification of the genus Primula has been investigated by botanists for over a century. As the genus is both large and diverse (with about 430–500 species), botanists have organized the species in various sub-generic groups. The most common is division into a series of thirty sections. Some of these sections (e.g. Vernales, Auricula) contain many species; others contain only one.

  • Amethystina
  • Auricula
  • Bullatae
  • Candelabra
  • Capitatae
  • Carolinella
  • Cortusoides
  • Cuneifolia
  • Denticulata
  • Dryadifolia
  • Farinosae
  • Floribundae
  • Grandis
  • Malacoidea
  • Malvacea
  • Minutissimae
  • Muscaroides
  • Nivales
  • Obconica
  • Parryi
  • Petiolares
  • Pinnatae
  • Pycnoloba
  • Reinii
  • Rotundifolia
  • Sikkimensis
  • Sinenses
  • Soldanelloideae
  • Souliei
  • Vernales

Selected species

Main article: List of Primula species

Species include: ::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/72/Primula_algida,_Գնարբուկ_սառը,Первоцвет_холодный-_panoramio.jpg" caption="''Primula algida''"] ::

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f9/Primula_aurantiaca_2017-06-25_3083.jpg" caption="''Primula auriantaca''"] ::

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2a/Primula_beesiana_in_Dunedin_Botanic_Garden_02.jpg" caption="''Primula beesiana''"] ::

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fb/Primula_clarkei_01.jpg" caption="''Primula clarkei''"] ::

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e5/Primula_denticulata_(Sakhalin)_3.JPG" caption="''[[Primula denticulata]]''"] ::

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fa/Essex_Oxlip_-geograph.org.uk-_403865.jpg" caption="''Primula elatior'' (oxlip)"] ::

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ea/Primula_florindae_inflorescence.jpg" caption="''Primula florindae''"] ::

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/eb/Primula_helodoxa_-Savill_Garden-_Windsor_Great_Park,England-_DSC06424.jpg" caption="''Primula helodoxa''"] ::

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3d/Primula_japonica_2.jpg" caption="''Primula japonica''"] ::

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d3/Primula_megaseifolia_003_GotBot_2016.jpg" caption="''Primula megaseifolia''"] ::

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/78/Primula_rosea_I_IMG_7210.jpg" caption="''Primula rosea''"] ::

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/22/Primula_sieboldii_RB.jpg" caption="''[[Primula sieboldii]]''"] ::

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0f/Orchid_primrose.jpg" caption="''[[Primula vialii]]''"] ::

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/dc/Auricula(1).jpg" caption="''Primula'' × ''pubescens''"] ::

Etymology

The word primula is the Latin feminine diminutive of primus, meaning first (prime), applied to flowers that are among the first to open in spring.

Distribution and habitat

Although there are over 400 species of Primula, about 75% are found in the eastern Himalayan mountain chain and western China (Yunnan), constituting a centre of diversity. Other centres of diversity are a western Asian centre (Caucasus, European mountain ranges from the Pyrenees, through the Alps to the Carpathian Mountains), mountains of East Asia and those of western North America. Primula is found in mountainous or higher latitude zones of North America, Europe, and Asia, with extension into South America, Africa (mountains of Ethiopia) and tropical Asia (islands of Java and Sumatra). About 25 species occur in North America (represented in five sections).

Primula is found in the humid and moderate climate regions of the Northern Hemisphere, predominantly in the forest belt, plain meadows, Alpine lawns, and nival and meadow tundras.

Ecology

Primulas are used as a food plant by the Duke of Burgundy butterfly.

Cultivation

Primula species have been extensively cultivated and hybridised, mainly derived from P. elatior, P. juliae, P. veris and P. vulgaris. Polyanthus (Primula × polyantha) is one such group of plants, which has produced a large variety of strains in all colours, usually grown as annuals or biennials and available as seeds or young plants.

Another huge range of cultivars, known as auriculas, are derived from crosses between P. auricula and P. hirsuta (among others). Specialist nurseries and auricula societies support the growing and showing of these choice strains.

AGM cultivars

The following hybrid varieties and cultivars have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit:-

  • 'Broadwell Milkmaid' (auri)
  • Charisma series (prim)
  • 'Clarence Elliott' (auri)
  • Crescendo Series (poly)
    • 'Crescendo Blue Shades'
    • 'Crescendo Bright Red'
    • 'Crescendo Pink and Rose Shades'
  • Danova Series (prim)
    • 'Danova Rose'
  • 'Francisca' (poly)
  • 'Guinevere' (poly)
  • Primula × loiseleurii 'Aire Mist' (auri)
  • Primula × pubescens (auri)
    • 'Rainbow Blue shades'
    • 'Rainbow Cream Shades'
    • 'Rainbow Scarlet Shades'--
  • 'Tony' (auri)
  • 'Wanda' (prim)

Hybrids

References

Bibliography

Species

References

  1. [https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:30005261-2 ''Primula'' L.] ''[[Plants of the World Online]]''. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  2. (1995). "Sunset Western Garden Book".
  3. (2008). "RHS A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants". [[DK (publisher).
  4. "Primula in Flora of North America @ efloras.org".
  5. Weakley, A. S.. (2008). "''Flora of the Carolinas, Virginia, and Georgia, and Surrounding Areas''".
  6. Ingwersen, Will. (1986). "Ingwersen's Manual of Alpine Plants". Timber Press.
  7. Green, Roy. (1986). "Asiatic Primulas". Alpine Garden Society.
  8. "Primula".
  9. "Primula".
  10. [http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/splist.pl?9834 GRIN Species Records of ''Primula''.] {{Webarchive. link. (24 September 2015 Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN).)
  11. Basak, S. K. and G. G. Maiti. 2000. ''Primula arunachalensis'' sp. nov. (Primulaceae) from the Eastern Himalaya. ''Acta Phytotax. Geobot.'' 51(1) 11-15.
  12. Ming, H. C. and G. Y. Ying. (2003). [http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/novon/novo-13-02-196.pdf Two new species of ''Primula'' (Primulaceae) from China.] {{Webarchive. link. (4 March 2016 ''Novon'' 13 196-199.)
  13. Xun, G. and F. Rhui-cheng. (2003). [http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/China/novon/novo-13-02-193.pdf ''Primula calyptrata'', a new species in section ''Carolinella'' (Primulaceae) from Yunnan, China.] {{Webarchive. link. (4 March 2016 ''Novon'' 13 193-95.)
  14. (24 June 2010). "The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species".
  15. (June 2011). "New and Noteworthy Species of Primula (Primulaceae) from China". Edinburgh Journal of Botany.
  16. Li, R. and C. M. Hu. (2009). [http://www.sekj.org/PDF/anb46-free/anb46-130.pdf ''Primula lihengiana'' (Primulaceae), a new species from Yunnan, China.] {{Webarchive. link. (23 October 2014 ''Annales Botanici Fennici'' 46(2) 130-32)
  17. (2012). "726. Primula Melanantha". Curtis's Botanical Magazine.
  18. (2005). "529. Primula Moupinensis. Primulaceae". Curtis's Botanical Magazine.
  19. (10 September 2008). "The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species".
  20. (23 June 2010). "The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species".
  21. (13 January 2011). "The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species".
  22. Chi-Ming, H.. (1994). "New Taxa and Combinations in Chinese Primulaceae". Novon.
  23. [http://www.kew.org/plants-fungi/Primula-verticillata.htm ''Primula verticillata'' (yellow primrose).] {{webarchive. link. (5 September 2012 Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.)
  24. Coombes, Allen J.. (2012). "The A to Z of Plant Names". Timber Press.
  25. "UK Butterflies - Larval Foodplants".
  26. (1978). "Reader's Digest Encyclopedia of Garden Plants & Flowers, 2nd edition". Reader's Digest Association.
  27. "Welcome to The National Auricula & Primula Society: Midland & West Section". National Auricula Society.
  28. (July 2017). "AGM Plants - Ornamental". Royal Horticultural Society.
  29. "''Primula'' 'Broadwell Milkmaid'". RHS.
  30. "''Primula'' 'Charisma Series'". RHS.
  31. "''Primula'' 'Clarence Elliott'". RHS.
  32. "RHS Plant Selector - ''Primula'' 'Crescendo Blue Shades'".
  33. "RHS Plant Selector - ''Primula'' 'Crescendo Bright Red'".
  34. "RHS Plant Selector - ''Primula'' 'Crescendo Golden'".
  35. "RHS Plant Selector - ''Primula'' 'Crescendo Pink and Rose Shades'".
  36. "RHS Plant Selector - ''Primula'' Danova Series".
  37. "RHS Plant Selector - ''Primula'' 'Danova Purple, White Edge'".
  38. "RHS Plant Selector - ''Primula'' 'Danova Rose'".
  39. "''Primula'' 'Francisca'". RHS.
  40. "RHS Plant Selector - ''Primula'' 'Guinevere'".
  41. "''Primula'' × ''loiseleurii'' 'Aire Mist'". RHS.
  42. "''Primula'' × ''pubescens''". RHS.
  43. "RHS Plant Selector - ''Primula'' 'Rainbow Blue shades'".
  44. "RHS Plant Selector - ''Primula'' 'Rainbow Cream Shades'".
  45. "RHS Plant Selector - ''Primula'' 'Rainbow Scarlet Shades'".
  46. "''Primula'' 'Tony'". RHS.
  47. "RHS Plant Selector - ''Primula'' 'Wanda'".
  48. {{GRIN. ''Primula'' × ''polyantha''. 29671
  49. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/299247893_Evolution_and_conservation_of_Sinai's_primrose_Primula_boveana_an_endangered_pre-glacial_relict_species_growing_on_Sinai_Mountain_Egypt, Moustafa, Abdelraouf & Mauricio, R & Mansour, Hassan (2016).
  50. https://www.mutagens.co.in/jgb/vol.09/12/091204.pdf, CLIMATE CHANGE CAUSE EXTINCTION FOR Primula boveana FROM ITS NATURAL HABITATS IN SOUTH SINAI, EGYPT.Moustafa, A., & Mansour, S. (2020)
  51. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/299247893_Evolution_and_conservation_of_Sinai's_primrose_Primula_boveana_an_endangered_pre-glacial_relict_species_growing_on_Sinai_Mountain_Egypt. Moustafa, A. A., Zaghloul, M.S., Mauricio, R., and Mansour, H. M. H. (2016).
  52. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/281438454_Characteristics_of_two_endemic_and_endangered_species_Primula_boveana_and_Kickxia_macilenta_growing_in_south_Sinai. Moustafa, A. A., Ramadan, A. A., Zaghloulol, M.S., & Helmy, M. A., (2001).

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