Primula caveana W.W.Sm., Rec. Bot. Surv. India. 4: 218. 1911.
Section Cordifoliae
Link to Flora of China description
Link to Flora of Bhutan description
Link to Nepal checklist
Type specimen: W. W. Smith & G. H. Cave 1810, 2111 resides at Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (specimens E00024697,E00024698,E00024699, E00024700, E00024701) and KEW (specimen K000750252).
P. cana (syn): Balf.f. & Cave, Notes Roy. Bot. Gard. Edinburgh 9: 151. 1916. Type specimen: G. H. Cave 1423, 1513 resides at Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (specimens E00024702, E00024703).
P. younghusbandiana (syn): Balf.f., Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 1922(4): 152. Type specimen: Wollaston 197 resides at KEW? but not scanned.
Epithet: Named for G.H. Cave.
Distribution: Nepal, Sikkim, Bhutan, NE India, Tibet (Xizang).
This farinose species prefers drier areas in a broad distribution from Eastern Nepal (it is found as high as 6000m!) through NW Sikkim, where it was first discovered, through Bhutan to SE Tibet. It prefers sheltered rock crevices similar to P. littledalei from Tibet. Resembles P. rotundifolia, but leaves have a tapering base with a less distinct petiole and the seed capsule is included in the calyx. See also P. obtusifolia which is in the Crystallophlomis Section but is somewhat akin.
