Bird's Eye Primrose

(Primula mistassinica)

 

   

 

 

Color Photograph: Corel Corporation

Color Photograph: U.S. Forest Service

Line Drawing: Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913. An Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States and Canada, Second Edition.

 

Bird's Eye Primrose (Primula mistassinica Michx.)

Identification: Flower tubular with 5 petals, each petal lobe with a notched apex. Outer half of petals pink, shading toward yellow-white toward the base. Flowers arranged in a terminal cluster. Stem without leaves except at the base. Leaves arranged in a basal rosette. Leaf ovate-elongate with a toothed outer margin. Plant 6 to 10 inches.

Distribution: Across Canada and southward to New England and New York in the east to Iowa and Illinois in the west.

Habitat: Bird's Eye Primrose is found on the banks of lakes and rivers.

Flowering period: May to August.

Similar Species: The pink flowers with a yellow eye in a cluster on top top of a leafless stem, and the toothed leaves in a basal rosette should readily identify this species.

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