Oxlip
Scientific name: Primula elatior (L.) Hill
Diagnostic features
Plant with rather short crisped hairs.
Leaves less gradually narrowed at base than in Primula vulgaris and often ± abruptly so.
Flowers in an umbel on a scape to 30cm, c.15-20mm across, pale yellow.
Calyx with darker green midribs.
Chromosome number: 2n=22.
Habitat
Native.
Distribution
Very locally abundant in woods on clay in East Anglia, in area ± lacking Primula vulgaris, and 2 small outlying areas in Bucks, rare escape elsewhere.
This species is keyed out on Page 3523 in the Text Key.
Hybrids
- Primula x media Peterm. (= Primula elatior x Primula veris) occurs rarely in the area of Primula elatior in East Anglia; it is intermediate in diagnostic characters and partially fertile, but backcrossing has not been detected.
- Primula x digenea A. Kern. (= Primula vulgaris x Primula elatior) occurs frequently around the area of Primula elatior in East Anglia. It is intermediate in leaf, flower and pubescence characters; the flowers are normally borne in an umbel on a scape. It is fertile and hybrid swarms arise.
- Primula x murbeckii Lindq. (= Primula vulgaris x Primula elatior x Primula veris) occurs very rarely near Primula elatior in W Suffolk, both from wild parents and by pollination of wild Primula elatior by garden (sometimes purple-flowered) Primula x polyantha Mill. (= Primula vulgaris x Primula veris). |
