TOPICS
Family description; distribution;
economic importance; other points of interest;
locally important taxa; Key to genera for use
in northern Utah and the Pacific northwest; Anagallis; Androsace;
Cyclamen, Dodecatheon; Glaux; Lysimachia; PrimulaBio3400
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PLANTS herbaceous, usually perennial but some are annual. LEAVES basal, opposite, or alternate,
but usually entire and always without stipules; glandular hairs, simple or compound, are
common. INFLORESCENCE is scapose, umbellate, racemose, or paniculate (i.e., always
indeterminate). FLOWERS are radially symmetric,
bisexual, usually 5-merous, and often heterostylous. CALYX united at the base. COROLLA
united at the base, the corolla lobes often strongly reflexed. STAMENS 5, epipetalous, opposite the petals. GYNOECIUM of a single,
unilocular pistil with a superior ovary having free-central placentation and a single,
capitate stigma. FRUIT is a 5-valved capsule with many seeds. Distribution: The Primulaceae
has about 28 genera and nearly 1,000 species in all. The family occurs throughout the
temperate regions of the world, but is most abundant in the northern hemisphere.
Economic importance: Such
economic importance as the Primulaceae has comes from the horticultural value of some of
its members. Both Primula and Cyclamen are available in local stores in the
spring. Lysimachia is grown for ground cover and flowers in the summer. Some
members of the family are poisonous, and a few have useful medicinal properties. Lysimachia
provides a yellow dye, and flowers of Primula veris can be used to make home-made
wine. How this last would taste, I have no idea.
Other points of interest: The Primulaceae is of interest to taxonomists for a couple of
reasons. One is heterostyly, another is its
possession of such unusual features as free-central placentation and
stamens that are opposite the petals.
Locally important taxa: In
some respects, the most important species of Primulaceae in northern Utah is probably Primula maguirei, a federally listed species. Primula maguirei grows at the mouth of Logan
Canyon and flowers during spring quarter (or the end of winter semester). Collecting or
otherwise killing any plants of P. maguirei is a federal offence for which there is
a substantial fine. If included in your collection, it would lead to instant failure.
Fortunately for you, there is a picture of it on the front cover of Shaw's book.
A much more abundant, and equally attractive, species in the region is Dodecatheon
pulchellum. It grows in low-lying, rather damp places and has distinctive, reflexed
petal lobes. The anthers form a cone around the style. This is an adaptation for
"buzz pollination". To understand buzz pollination, think about what happens
when you fan a fire - the ashes fly up everywhere, including over you. That is what
happens when an insect hovers over the stigma, flapping its wings while it probes for
nectar. The pollen grains fly out of the anthers onto the body of the insect.
Another genus that can generally found in northern Utah is Cyclamen. Its
preferred habitats in this part of the world include florist shops or departments,
hospital wards, and other human habitations. It is native to the Mediterranean region and
has about 20 species.
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Cyclamen
Note anther tips level with top of tube
Dodecatheon pulchellum
Note - anthers
extend beyond the corolla tube
Primula maguirei
DO NOT PICK!
Anagallis arvensis
Primula maguirei, again
Dodecatheon
pulchellum
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