Primula sikkimensis Hook.
Section Sikkimensis
Link to Flora of China description
Link to Nepal checklist
Type specimen: cult. from seeds of J. D. Hooker s.n., June 1849 illustrated in Bot. Mag. TAB. 4597, original material resides at K (specimens K000750446, K000750447) and P (specimens P04908313, P04908363) and M (specimen M0173545)
P. microdonta Franch. ex Petitm. (syn): Type specimens: D'Orleans s.n., June 1884 and Soulie 3406 resides at P (specimens P04544192, P04544194, P04544193, P04544197) and E (specimens E00024816, E00024817).
P. microdonta var. alpicola W.W.Sm. f. micromeres : W.W.Sm., Notes Roy. Bot. Gard. Edinburgh. 15: 86. 1926. Type specimen: Kingdon-Ward 5939, 5921 resides at E (specimens E00024729, E00024728).
P. pseudosikkimensis Forrest (syn): Type specimen: Forrest 2642 resides at E (specimen E00024351) and K (specimens K000750124, K000750126, K000750127) and P (specimen P04544530) and US (specimen US00116503).
P. sikkimensis Hook. ssp. pseudosikkimensis (Forrest) W.W.Sm. & Forrest (syn), Notes Roy. Bot. Gard. Edinburgh. 16: 39. 1928.
P. sikkimensis var. pseudosikkimensis (Forrest) A.J.Richards (syn).
P. pudibunda W.W.Sm. (syn). Type specimen: W. W Smith & Cave 1614 resides at E (specimen E00024727) and P (specimen P04908330 ).
P. sikkimensis ssp. pudibunda (W.W.Sm.) W.W.Sm. & Forrest, Trans. Bot. Soc. Edinburgh 33:454. 1943.
P. sikkimensis var. pudibunda (W.W.Sm.) W.W.Sm. & H.R.Fletcher, Notes Roy. Bot. Gard. Edinburgh. 14: 32. 1923.
P. hopeana Balf.f. & R.E.Cooper (syn): Type specimen: Cooper 4807 resides at E (specimens E00024725, E00024726).
P. sikkimensis var. hopeana (Balf.f. & R.E.Cooper) W.W.Sm. & H.R.Fletcher (syn.), Trans. Bot. Soc. Edinburgh 33:453. 1943.
P. sikkimensis Hook. var. lorifolia W.W.Sm., Notes Roy. Bot. Gard. Edinburgh. 19: 313. 1938. (syn.): Type specimen: Hanbury-Tracy 176 resides at E (specimen E00024823).
P. sikkimensis hookeri: Stapf, Bot. Mag., t. 9276. 1932.
P. penduliflora A.Kern. ex Stein
Epithet: Named for the kingdom of Sikkim.
Distribution: Widespread from Sikkim through Bhutan, Nepal, NE India, N Burma (Myanmar), S Tibet, NW Yunnan to W Sichuan.
A widespread species, variable in flower color (usually yellow, sometimes cream or white), in stature (very dwarf forms occur) and leaf shape (base long attenuate to subrounded). Species in section Sikkimensis hybridize easily and sometimes the distinctions between species may be blurred. As suggested by W.W. Smith, if the definition of P. sikkimensis was broadened, it would encompass species such as P. waltonii and P. ioessa and that P. sikkimensis would then include plants of all color combinations of yellow, white, red and purple. Primula hopeana is considered a white variety though C.M.Hu (Flora of China) considers it distinct and endemic to Bhutan. A genetic study may help clarify the relationships in this Section. A deciduous species, leaves efarinose, apex rounded (sometimes acute), margin serrate to dentate, base usually long attenuate but sometimes obtuse or sub-rounded (see P. microdonta, this variation often occurs in Nepal). Scape to 90cm., farinose near the apex, with (1, occasionally 2) umbel of numerous heterostylous, exannulate, pendulous, bell shaped flowers with farina on the face. Calyx farinose within and parted to the middle into lanceolate lobes.
