Primula erosa Wall.
Section Denticulata
Link to Nepal checklist
Type specimen: Blinkworth 611, resides at E (specimens E00024434, E00024437, E00024438) and K (specimens K001111407, K000750606, K000750607, K000750608) and P (specimens P04588106, P04588108) and HBG (specimen HBG508213) and BM (specimens BM000997022, BM000997023) and BR (specimen BR0000005297399) and GZU (specimen GZU000274105).
P. erosa (nomen nudum ?): Wall., Numerical List 611.
P. erosa: Wall. ex Regel, Bot. Zeitung (Berlin) 11:333. 1853.
P. denticulata Sm. var. erosa (syn): Duby, DC. Prodr. Syst. Nat. Regni. Veg. 8:45. 1844.
Epithet: Named for the irregularly toothed leaf margin.
Distribution: Kumaon, India (Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh), N Pakistan to Central Nepal. Reported to be in Bhutan but not confirmed.
Similar to P. denticulata but much smaller, without basal scales at flowering and from lower elevations (1300-3000m). P. atrodentata is similar but has scabrid, farinose leaves. P. erosa leaves to 15cm long including the petiole, obovate or spathulate to oblong, rounded at the apex, tapering to a winged petiole, margin ciliolate and finely erose or erose-denticulate, glabrous or puberulous on both sides and with potentially farinose glands below. Scape to 7-35cm, 1-5 per plant, farinose especially toward the apex, with an umbel of few to many purple or violet flowers with a yellow eye. Bracts and calyx farinose. Clarification is needed regarding the validty of the Wallich catalogue entry. If it is invalid, then the Regal reference should be cited. Introduced as "P. drummondiana" into cultivation from Landruk (Modi Khola), Nepal. Originally collected from Kumaon. All the images below are from Nepal. If you have images of this species from Uttarakhand or Himachal Pradesh please contact the webmaster.
