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.
Calyx equals the tube
Calyx 2x's the tube
Primula rusbyi
comes from mountain locations in dry areas but survives on moist slopes and cliff
edges.
Sweet Caroline... section Carolinella
Where it began, I can't begin to knowin' But then I know it's growing strong Was in the spring And spring became the summer Who'd have believed you'd come along
... Sweet Caroline.*
Primula cardioeides in Vietnam
…Read More
Primula whitei or Primula bhutanica?
Primula bhutanica
Primula whitei and Primula bhutanica are members of Section Petiolares whose members have a crumbling seed capsule (rather than the seed capsule opening by valves like most species), and often have dimorp…Read More
Recent New Primula Species (2016)
The New Year is a good time to reflect on what is new in Primula. Although I have made a lot of progress on my Original Description Project, the list of all Primula species is a moving target. In particular, …Read More
The Truth about the Blue Nivalids (P. youngeriana)
Of the Blue Nivalids, this perhaps one of the easiest species to write about. That is because it is little known, probably only collected once ever, by Sherriff and Taylor (PDF) , on the Mira La, Tibet in 1938. A search of…Read More
Primula lilacina vs Primula bellidifolia (P. hyacinthina)
Primula lilacina
In 2008, Primula lilacina, a new species in Section Muscarioides was described by John Richards. This species is found in Sichuan (Tuer Pass 29°31'0.49"N 100°16'21.09"E and Yading area 28°26'57…Read More
Added new images: P. henrici, P. bullata, P. sieboldii, P. atrodentata, P. griffithii, P. muscoides, P. hubeiensis, P. alcalina, P. saxatilis, P. utahensis, P. vaginata, P. bhutanica, P. whitei, P. denticulata, P. sessilis, P. filipes, P. pulchra, P. carolinehenryae.
Added new information: P. maximowiczii, P. botschantzevii, P. macrocarpa, P. undulifolia, P. wawushanica, P. persimilis, P. cavaleriei, P. lithophila, P. tsiangii, P. scopulicola, P. biserrata.
Submissions
If you have photographs of Primula in the wild, please consider contacting the webmaster for identifications and for possible inclusion in the Species Gallery. See the Image Submissions page for more details.
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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