Recent New Primula Species (2017)

The New Year is a good time to reflect on what is new in Primula. There have only been a couple of new Chinese species discovered this year: Primula zhui (by H. B. Ding) - from the original publication Primula centellifolia G.Hao & Y.Xu - Similar to Primula scopulicola, a species...

Read More

The Mysterious Primula of Omta Tso (Bhutan)

Omta Tso, Bhutan In November, 2016, I visited the herbarium at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh to study non-type herbarium sheets which are unavailable online. One of the species I wanted to investigate is Primula tsariensis which was described from a collection made in 1936 by Ludlow...

Read More

The Black Mountain (Bhutan) - Primulas and Problems

Jigme Singye Wangchuck National Park covers 1,730 sq kms in south-central Bhutan and contained within the park is Durshingla, the Black Mountain. (JSWNP Facebook page) Durshingla © Darlo Letro In 1915, Roland Edgar Cooper made the first botanical expedition to Durshingla, which he...

Read More

Spring is here, almost (Primula denticulata)

This blog post was originally written over 3 years ago! Though it is now late in 2020, and the pandemic is still with us, looking ahead we can hope that life returns to normal soon. Primula denticulata is surely a wonderful symbol of that hope.One of the most photographed Primula in the...

Read More

J. D. Hooker and Primary Data Sources (Primula pulchra)

P. denticulata, a common species near Lachen, Sikkim The easiest way to investigate a species is to read secondary sources of information. These are often such works as monographs or regional floras. We are now at least one generation removed from some of the prominent...

Read More

Primula pulchra - Hide and Seek with P. gambleana

In 1882, An article was published in the Journal of the Linnean Society titled "On some Undescribed and Imperfectly known Indian Species of Primula and Androsace" by George Watt. It was actually J.D. Hooker that wrote this article in Watt's name, using Watt's notes, though revising them where...

Read More

Photographing Primula in the Wild

Pam Photographing Primula agleniana in Tibet One of the joys and pleasures of administering Primula World is seeing wild Primula images taken by others while travelling. Not every person is a world-class photographer or owns the best camera equipment, but that doesn't mean their images...

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, there have been several Chinese species discovered. Changes for...

Read More