Primula specuicola goes by the common name of "Easter Primrose" and that's because it blooms at Easter time. This year (2016) I headed south the week before, making the 17 hour drive to Moab, Utah over two days. I had been there the previous October and had seen a few plants just forming their resting buds, but I was anxious to see this species in bloom.
Primula specuicola growing in an alcove
It was well worth the drive as the plants were in perfect form. Armed with more information than my Fall trip, I was able to see plants at three different locations and observe their habitat and variations. The most striking observation was how limited their habitat is and how they have no ability to establish in other places as they are surrounded by hostile environments. Though this is a member of Section Aleuritia which includes well known species like P. laurentiana, P. farinosa and P. scotica, it is arguably one of the showiest species in this Section, having leaves covered on both sides with white farina, giving them a silver appearance, and having umbels of soft rose colored flowers in the best forms. See the Species Gallery for lots of images.
I made the following video to help you understand the habitat of this remarkable species. Don't forget to change your settings to watch in High Definition. Enjoy!
Really interesting article and video. I was unfamiliar with alcoves and their significance as habitat. The process of P. specuicola colonising new suitable alcoves must be painstakingly slow! Ed
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.
Really interesting article and video. I was unfamiliar with alcoves and their significance as habitat. The process of P. specuicola colonising new suitable alcoves must be painstakingly slow!
ReplyDeleteEd
I was surprised also. It really was an eye-opener to see them in the wild.
Delete