European primulas

[Tony Willis]

Three primulas which I cannot identify. The different books to separate them seem impossible to interpret.

The one from Switzerland has slightly darker flowers than in the photograph and dark green leaves.The ones from Mt Blanc have pale green leaves but the leaves of the one without a white eye are more elongated than the other.  All three have sticky leaves to the touch.

[Pauli]

Hello Tony,

I think, that hirsuta, daonensis and villosa as well as pedemontana are rather difficult to identify, but location should help.
 The first I would call hirsuta.
The second has curiously crenate leaves - I have seen such things (even much stronger) in marginatas, but not in the above group. Perhaps some hybrid with minima blood. It also lacks the white eye, which points to minima or glutinosa.
The last again hirsuta, as I do not think, that others occur around Mt. Blanc.

I am more familiar with our Austrian ones. And  to separate villosa from hirsuta is sometimes difficult in Herbarium specimens (Length and kind of glands) but they are geographically separated here.

Hope that helps a little!

Herbert

[Tony Willis]

Herbert

thanks for your ideas.I do sometimes wonder if there is any difference or if they are just local variants

[greenspan]

nr. 1 seems to be the same plant that i found last year on Passo di Gávia (2.618 m; italian alps), about 200 m below the pass hight, when we had a piss stop on our bike tour . in a german garden forum this primula was identified as primula daonensis. the colour of the flower is a bit more pink than on the foto. the plant flowers in my cold, but frostfree greenhouse and got no uv-radiation, therefore the colour is so paly i guess.

[Pauli]

Hello,

I have been on Passo Gavia about 20 years ago.

I found there Primula daonensis and glutinosa. Your plant is daonensis, an plant endemic to Italy and perhaps to small parts of Switzerland, I do not know now. It is close to hirsuta, but on average a little smaller!

Regards

Herbert