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Western Wetland Flora

Field Office Guide to Plant Species

American Primrose
Primula incana M.E. Jones

JPG -- Species Photo JPG -- Distribution Map

Family: Primrose (Primulaceae)
Flowering: June-August
Field Marks: The distinctive features of this primrose are its white to lilac flowers with deeply lobed petals and the white-mealy lower surface of the leaves.
Habitat: Wet meadows, along streams, in swamps.
Habit: Perennial herb with fibrous roots.
Stems: Upright, without leaves, unbranched, up to 15 inches tall, bearing only flowers.
Leaves: All basal, oblanceolate, up to 3 1/2 inches long, up to 1 inch wide, more or less rounded at the tip, tapering to the base, white-mealy on the lower surface, with or without a few teeth.
Flowers: 3-12 at the tip of a leafless stem, subtended by bracts 1/4-1/2 inch long.
Sepals: 5, green, united below, 1/3-1/2 inch long, the tube about twice as long as the lobes.
Petals: 5, white to lilac, united below, deeply lobed, 1/3-1/2 inch long.
Stamens: 5, attached to the tube of the petals.
Pistils: Ovary superior, smooth.
Fruits: Capsules ovoid, smooth, up to 1/2 inch long; seeds numerous.
Notes: The leaves may be browsed by deer.

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U.S. Department of the Interior | U.S. Geological Survey
URL: http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/plants/florawe/species/8/priminca.htm
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Page Last Modified: Saturday, 02-Feb-2013 06:28:24 EST
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