There are 21 Primula species listed for North America, and we
usually think that means "in the USA and Canada". However there is one Primula
which is found in Mexico. That species is Primula rusbyi. It is also found in
the US states of Arizona and New Mexico. It is speculated that because it
occurs in the Sierra Madre de Chiapas Mountains of Mexico, that it could also
occur in the extension of those mountains into Guatemala. Occurrences from the Intermountain Region Herbarium Network show herbarium samples from the mountains of the Mexican states of Durango, Zacatecas, Coahuila and Chihuahua.
The species P. ellisiae was described from individual plants
from the Sandia Mountains, New Mexico based on longer calyx lobes in relation
to the tube and a larger sized seed capsule. These characteristics vary within
populations and according to the Flora of North America “preliminary genetic analyses (S. Kelso and
P. Beardsley, unpubl.) reveal no substantive genetic distinction between these
individuals and those from elsewhere in the range”. The name “Primula ellisiae” persists in
cultivation but should be corrected to Primula rusbyi.
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| Calyx equals the tube |
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| Calyx 2x's the tube |
Primula rusbyi
comes from mountain locations in dry areas but survives on moist slopes and cliff
edges.
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| P. rusbyi in habitat |
The species P. ellisiae was described from individual plants
from the Sandia Mountains, New Mexico based on longer calyx lobes in relation
to the tube and a larger sized seed capsule. These characteristics vary within
populations and according to the Flora of North America “preliminary genetic analyses (S. Kelso and
P. Beardsley, unpubl.) reveal no substantive genetic distinction between these
individuals and those from elsewhere in the range”. The name “Primula ellisiae” persists in
cultivation but should be corrected to Primula rusbyi.
After 3 years, P. rusbyi is doing well in Juneau
ReplyDeleteThat's a long way from Mexico! Glad to hear it grows for you. It's a great species.
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