Primula

Primula
Primula vulgaris
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Ericales
Family: Primulaceae
Subfamily: Primuloideae
Genus: Primula
L. (1753)
Type species
Primula veris L.
Species[1]

528; see text

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.

Primula (/ˈprɪmjʊlə/)[2] is a genus of herbaceous[3] 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.[3]

Primula has over 500 species in traditional treatments, and more if certain related genera are included within its circumscription.[4]

  1. ^ Primula L. Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  2. ^ Sunset Western Garden Book. 1995. pp. 606–07.
  3. ^ a b RHS A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants. United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. 2008. p. 1136. ISBN 978-1405332965.
  4. ^ "Primula in Flora of North America @ efloras.org". www.efloras.org. Archived from the original on October 13, 2013. Retrieved 2023-02-19.