Primula alcalina explained

Primula alcalina, the alkali or bluedome primrose,^{[1] [2]} is a species of primrose found in central-east Idaho and Montana.^[3]

Appearance and identification

Related species

Primula alcalina is closely related, and was once believed to be conspecific to, P. incana, the hoary primrose, but can be distinguished from that species by the size and colour of its flowers (smaller and white, as opposed to pale purple), and by cellular-level differences, having a significantly lower chromosome number.^{[4] [5] [6]}

It is believed to be a sister taxon to Primula modesta of Japan.^[7]

Physical description

Primula alcalina has leaves measuring 1–4 cm in length with glabrous (hairless) surfaces.^[8] It roots are fibrous and its rhizomes are thin and relatively short. Its flowers grow on unbranched umbels at the top of a flower stem which can vary between 6.5 and 24 cm in height. There can be as many as 10 flowers, which grow on purplish-green pedicels.

Notes and References

1. Web site: Primula alcalina: Alkali Primrose . 2023-05-13 . explorer.natureserve.org.
2. Web site: Primula alcalina Cholewa & Douglass M.Hend. . 2023-05-13 . www.gbif.org . en.
3. Web site: Alkali Primrose — Primula alcalina . 2023-05-13 . Montana Field Guide . en.
4. Cholewa . Anita F. . Henderson . Douglass M. . 1984-01-01 . Primula alcalina (Primulaceae): A new species from Idaho . Brittonia . en . 36 . 1 . 59–62 . 10.2307/2806292 . 1938-436X . 1938-436X . 2806292 . 84808767.
5. Web site: Primula incana M.E.Jones . 2023-05-14 . www.gbif.org . en.
6. Report on the Conservation Status of Primula alcalina, a Proposed Candidate Species . Moseley . Robert K. . Feb 1989 . . https://web.archive.org/web/20220129141247/https://idfg.idaho.gov/ifwis/idnhp/cdc_pdf/moser89b.pdf . 29 Jan 2022 . live .
7. Book: Richards, John . Primula . 2014-11-24 . Batsford Books . 978-1-84994-241-6 . en.
8. Web site: Primula alcalina in Global Plants on JSTOR . 2023-05-14 . plants.jstor.org.