The primrose was @SpeciesofUK from 7th
to 13th July, 2013.
The familiar wild, pale yellow primrose is one of the early signs of
spring. Its appearance coincides with the first daffodils. They appear together
in damp grass or light woodland.[1]
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| Primrose Flowers [Source: Flickr Creative Commons © wwarby] |
The name "primrose" is derived from "prima rosa" (first flower) because it blooms so early[2]
The primrose is found across most of
Europe and beyond.
The primrose, Primula vulgaris,
is native to most of western and southern Europe, Algeria and southwest Asia.[3]
It is very common on grassy banks, rocks, burnsides and in woods,
preferring shady sheltered sites but also often found in open exposed areas.[4]
The genus Primula contains
many other flowering plants, many of which are from the Himalayas, including a
number of others bearing the name ‘primrose.’[5]
Primula vulgaris is sometimes called the
‘common primrose’ or ‘English primrose’ to distinguish it from these other
species.[6]
Primroses are simple pale yellow flowers
in a rosette of leaves.
Primrose leaves have a crinkled surface and are tongue-shaped. They form
a loose rosette surrounding the flowers. The underside of the leaf is covered
in downy hairs.[7]
In early spring the primrose produces many scented flowers which are
2.5-3.5cm across. The colour is a pale yellow or (rarely) pink. They flower
from March to June.[8]
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| Wild Primrose Flowers [Source: Flickr Creative Commons © J.G. in S.F.] |
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| Wild Pink Primroses [Source: Flickr Creative Commons © joysaphine] |
The flowers are either "thrum" types or "pin" types.
In pin types the stigma is at the top of the flower tube; thrum near the
bottom. Charles Darwin was first to notice these different types.[9]
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| 'Thrum' type Flower [Source: Flickr Creative Commons © Drinker Moth] |
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| 'Pin' type Flower [Source: Flickr Creative Commons © Drinker Moth] |
It is a surprisingly hardy plant.
The primrose is perennial (meaning it lives for more than two years).
Its leaves are evergreen provided the habitat is right.[10]
It’s a popular plant for gardeners because it's easy to grow and hardy.
It's grown in gardens in a huge number of varieties in many different colours.[11]
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| Red Primroses [Source: Flickr Creative Commons © morningcoffee] |
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| White Primroses [Source: Flickr Creative Commons © Sudhanwa..] |
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| Pink-tipped Primroses [Source Flickr Creative Commons © ajschu] |
In some sheltered banks and copses in the south of England, the primrose can actually flower throughout the year.[12]
It also occasionally ‘aestivates,’ meaning it becomes dormant in the
summer during hot, dry weather.[13]
A single primrose plant may live for 15-25 years.[14]
Primroses have been used historically
in herbal medicine.
The root of the primrose was used as an emetic and antispasmodic. The plant
tissue was used as a sedative. And the leaves were used to treat wounds.[15]
Primrose tea was also believed to relieve nervous disorders.[16]
Primroses have been picked for sale for many generations. They were a
common choice for decorating churches. This practice declined in the 1970s and
1980s.[17]
Don’t confuse them with cowslip.
Cowslip is the most common plant to get confused with primroses, though
in truth they are quite different.
Cowslip has similar-looking leaves to the primrose and they both have
yellow flowers.
However, primrose flowers arise on individual stalks from the centre of a
leaf-rosette, whereas cowslip has a single stem, with all the stalked flowers
at its tip.[18]
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| Cowslip [Source: Flickr Creative Commons © Peter aka anemoneprojectors] |
Strange but true…
The primrose may look harmless, but in fact it is one
of the most common causes of contact dermatitis in the UK.[19]
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