| Primula elatior | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Ericales |
| Family: | Primulaceae |
| Genus: | Primula |
| Species: | P. elatior |
| Binomial name | |
| Primula elatior Hill, 1765 | |
Primula elatior, theoxlip[1] (ortrue oxlip), is aspecies offlowering plant in thefamily Primulaceae,native to nutrient-poor and calcium-rich damp woods and meadows throughout Europe, with northern borders in Denmark and southern parts of Sweden, eastwards to theAltai Mountains and on theKola Peninsula in Russia, and westwards in the British Isles.
The oxlip is aherbaceous or semi-evergreen[2]perennial plant growing to 30 cm (12 in) tall by 25 cm (10 in) broad, with a rosette ofleaves 5–15 cm long and 2–6 cm broad. It produces light yellowflowers in spring, in clusters of 10-30 together on a single stem 10–30 cm (4–12 in) tall, each flower 9–15 mm broad.[3]
It may be confused with the closely related cowslip (Primula veris), which has a similar general appearance, althoughP. veris has smaller, bell-shaped, bright yellow flowers (and red dots inside the flower), and acorolla tube without folds. The leaves ofP. veris are more spade-shaped thanP. elatior.
Thespecific epithetelatior means "taller".[4] The common name "oxlip", from "ox" and "slip", may refer to the fact that oxlips (and cowslips) are often found in a boggy pasture used by cattle.[5]
Primula elatior is cultivated as a garden plant. It may be used as bedding, grown from seed as abiennial, and discarded after flowering. It may be used in informal settings such as wildflower meadows. It prefers a sheltered position in full sun with moist soil. It has won theRoyal Horticultural Society'sAward of Garden Merit.[2]
The oxlip was voted theCounty flower ofSuffolk in 2002 following a poll by the wild plant conservation charityPlantlife.[6]
