Primula vulgaris is aperennial growing 10–30 centimetres (4–12 inches) tall, with a basal rosette ofleaves which are more-or-lessevergreen in favoured habitats. The leaves are 5–25 cm (2–10 in) long and 2–6 cm (1–2+1⁄2 in) broad, often heavily wrinkled, with an irregularlycrenate to dentate margin. The leaf blade is gradually attenuated towards the base and unevenly toothed. The single stem, extremely short, is hidden in the centre of the leafrosette.[5]
Blooming in early spring in theNorthern Hemisphere (February–April), the delicately scentedflowers are 2–4 cm in diameter, borne singly on short slender stems.[5] They are typically pale yellow, though white or pink forms are often seen in nature. The flowers areactinomorphic with a superior ovary which later forms acapsule opening by valves to release the small black seeds. The flowers arehermaphrodite butheterostylous; individual plants bear eitherpin flowers (longuistylous flower: with the capita of thestyle prominent) orthrum flowers (brevistylous flower: with thestamens prominent).Fertilisation can only take place between pin and thrum flowers. Pin-to-pin and thrum-to-thrumpollination is ineffective.[6][7]
The primrose is distinguished from other species ofPrimula by its pale yellow (in the nominate subspecies) flowers produced singly on long flower stalks which are covered in rather shaggy hairs. The flowers open flat rather than concave as in the case ofPrimula veris, the cowslip.
A pink form is widely seen, growing amongst the much more common yellow forms; this may be a genetic variant rather than a garden escape.[8][9] Occasional red forms are more likely to benaturalised from garden varieties.[6]
Thescientific namePrimula is a diminutive of theLatinprimus'prime', alluding to the fact that this flower is among the first to appear in spring.[10] Thevernacular name has the same meaning: primrose derives from alate Latin formprima rosa, consisting ofprima'first' (feminine), androsa'rose'.[11]
In appropriate conditions,P. vulgaris can cover the ground in open woods and shaded hedgerows. It is found mainly by streams, under bushes, in orchards and clear, moist deciduous forests. Occasionally it also appears in meadows. In Central Europe plants thrive best on nutrient-rich, but lime-poor, humus-rich, loose and often stony loam soils in winter-mild situations. In more populated areas it has sometimes suffered from over-collection and theft so that few natural displays of primroses in abundance can now be found. However it is common on motorway verges and railway embankments where human intervention is restricted. To prevent excessive damage to the species, picking of primroses or the removal of primrose plants from the wild is illegal in many countries, e.g. the UKWildlife and Countryside Act 1981.[13]
Most (90%) individuals are heterostylous, the minority monostylous. The flowers of the species are visited by a variety of insects, including butterflies (Lepidoptera),Hymenoptera, beetles (Coleoptera) andDiptera. Which visitors pollinate plants is not fully established. However, good pollinators are said to bebumblebees and hairy flies of the genusBombylius. However, the most common visitors to the flowers are small beetles of the genusMeligethes – often there are up to 12 or morepollen-covered individuals in a single flower. The beetles also fly from flower to flower and, at least theoretically, are well suited as pollinators.[14][15]
Numerous invertebrate herbivores in the ordersDiptera andLepidoptera feed on the leaves ofP. vulgaris, including multiple moth species in the generaNoctua andXestia.[14]
Primrose flowers, and the flowers of related members of the Primulaceae, are often removed from their stalks and scattered on the ground bybullfinches apparently consuming the ovaries and nectaries.[17][14]Pheasants,sparrows, andfallow andmuntjac deer are also known to eat the flowers. Small mammals both feed on and transport the seeds.[14]
The wild primrose is a staple ofcottage garden plantings, and is widely available as seeds or young plants. It grows best in moist but well-drained soil in light shade. It is increased by seed anddivision. The throat is usually coloured rich yellow.
Primrose breeding of named coloured varieties became popular in the nineteenth and early twentieth century.[18] Numerouscultivars have been selected forgarden planting, often derived from subsp.sibthorpii orhybrids between the subspecies; these and other garden hybrids are available in a wide range of colours, including white, yellow and red, or brown and red in all gradations as well as dark red, pink, purple, dark brown and dark blue, and with an extended flowering season.[7]
The termPolyanthus, orPrimula × polyantha, refers to various tall-stemmed and multi-coloured strains ofP. vulgaris ×P. verishybrids. Though perennial, they may be short-lived and are typically grown from seed or from young plants asbiennials.
Both flowers and leaves are edible, the flavour ranging between mild lettuce and more bitter salad greens. The leaves can be cooked in soup but preferably with other plants because they are sometimes a little strong. The leaves can also be used for tea, and the young flowers can be made into primrose wine. In the past the whole plant and especially the root were considered to haveanalgesic, anti-spasmodic,diuretic and expectorant properties. It contains small amounts ofsaponins, and was given for colds.[23]P. vulgaris foliage contains significant amounts of vitamin C.[24]
Primrose Yellow exists in some paint and color systems and is named after this flower.[27]
The primrose occurs frequently inRomantic poetry, and has been celebrated, among others, by poets such asKeats,Wordsworth,Wilde,Goldsmith andChaucer.[28] In common parlance, the phrase "the primrose path" implies the thoughtless pursuit of pleasure, especially when it is seen to bring disastrous consequences. The original allusion is a reference inShakespeare'sHamlet (1.3.48-52) to "the primrose path of dalliance".[29][30]
The old Roman name of the Primrose was Paralisos, that of the son ofPriapus andFlora, who died of grief for the loss of his betrothed Melicerta, but was, by his parents, metamorphosed into the flower.[31]
^abManfred A. Fischer, Karl Oswald, Wolfgang Adler: Excursion flora for Austria, Liechtenstein and South Tyrol . 3rd, improved edition. Upper Austria, Biology Center of the Upper Austrian Provincial Museums, Linz 2008,ISBN978-3-85474-187-9 , p. 685 .
^abBlamey, M. & Grey-Wilson, C. (1989).Flora of Britain and Northern Europe.ISBN0-340-40170-2
^Mabey, Richard:Flora britannica (Chatto & Windus, 1996).ISBN1856193772
^Clapham, A., Tutin, T., & Warburg, E. (1962).Flora of the Brish Isles.
^François Couplan, Eva Styner, Guide to Wild Edible and Toxic Plants , Delachaux and Niestlé, coll. "The guides of the naturalist" (ISBN2-603-00952-4 )
^abcdefJacquemyn, H., Endels, P., Brys, R., Hermy, M., Woodell, S. R. J. (2009). "Biological Flora of the British Isles:Primula vulgaris Huds. (P. acaulis (L.) Hill)".Journal of Ecology.97 (4):812–833.doi:10.1111/j.1365-2745.2009.01513.x.ISSN1365-2745.
^Dietmar Aichele, Heinz-Werner Schwegler: The flowering plants of Central Europe , Franckh-Kosmos-Verlag, 2nd revised edition 1994, 2000, Volume 3,ISBN3-440-08048-X
^SRJ Woodell: Natural Hybridization in Britain between Primula vulgaris Huds. (the primrose) and P. elatior (L.) Hill (the oxlip) . In: Watsonia . Volume 7 , No. 3 , 1969, pp. 115-127
.jpg)
