Primula verticilllata - in situ

[FrazerHenderson]

Thought I'd share with you some shots of Primula verticillata taken in Yemen during February and March this year. I found the plant in four distinct locations. Location 1 at Kawkaban. Location 2 some 3 miles from Kawkaban near the village of Beduoga. Location 3 in the Haraz Mountains some 5 miles from Manaka and finally in a wadi at Beit Baws on the ouskirts of Sana'a.

All the pictures below are from location 1.

Picture 5 shows a typical flush through the rock face.

[FrazerHenderson]

Pictures from location 2

(Location 4 should have read on the outskirts of Sana'a)

[FrazerHenderson]

Pictures at location 3 which was next to path infrequently used by goats (which tend to clear all the vegetation). agin location nestled under an overhang with calcareous seepage providing nourishment to the plants. i provide a number of close ups to assist those with a particular interst in the genera.

Notice the broadness of the leaves as against those found at the other locations

[FrazerHenderson]

Pictures from location 4 at Beit Baws.

[shelagh]

Terrific pictures Frazer, will you be going back for seed?

[FrazerHenderson]

Shelagh

I collected seed from location 1 but alas BAA contrived to lose my luggage between London and Edinburgh!

Frazer

[David Nicholson]

Smashing pictures Frazer

[Lesley Cox]

A genuine cliff dweller.

[FrazerHenderson]

Shelagh

I collected seed from location 1 but alas BAA contrived to lose my luggage between London and Edinburgh!

Frazer

Shelagh
I managed to get a very small amount of seed from a particularly late specimen at Kawkaban and will donate all the seed to the SRGc Seed Exchange.

Frazer

[Magnar]

Very interesting pics,, thanks a lot 

[Giles]

It's very easy to grow.(South Midlands).I use ordinary Multi-purpose compost. Outside in the garden during the summer. Frost-free and dryish in the Winter.
A lady at my local AGS group is always chopping bits off to give away.
I recently acquired a P.simensis and hope it's going to be as easy!!

[Maggi Young]

I know a lot of people who think they are growing P. verticillata who are, in fact, growing Primula x kewensis! 

[ashley]

I know a lot of people who think they are growing P. verticillata who are, in fact, growing Primula x kewensis! 

So presumably that goes for simensis too then, but is x kewensis self-fertile?

Ashley

[Maggi Young]

Ashley, I have found that there is considerable confusion in the primulas of the sphondylia secetion... all too often these plants.... thought by their growers to be verticillata, edelbergii, etc, turn out to be  P.x kewensis. I think that  P. x kewensis is self-fertile, though may require some help with a paintbrush, as quite a few of these primulas do, their long tubes keeping the vital parts rather far apart otherwise!

[ashley]

Ashley, I have found that there is considerable confusion in the primulas of the sphondylia secetion... all too often these plants.... thought by their growers to be verticillata, edelbergii, etc, turn out to be  P.x kewensis. I think that  P. x kewensis is self-fertile, though may require some help with a paintbrush, as quite a few of these primulas do, their long tubes keeping the vital parts rather far apart otherwise!

So what are the distinguishing characteristics Maggi? 

My 'simensis'  seeds about prodigiously in the sand bed without any help, but so far I've been unable to confirm (or otherwise) its identity.