Kingdom Plantae Family Primulaceae Scientific name Primula suffrutescens | Order Ericales Genus Primula Rank Species | |
 | ||
Similar Primula magellanica, Primula cusickiana, Primula mistassinica, Primula heucherifolia, Primula anisodora | ||
Primula suffrutescens is a species of primrose known by the common name Sierra primrose.
Contents
Description
Primula suffrutescens is a subshrub growing from a sturdy anchoring rhizome. It has a matlike form with a thick, woody base covered in the dried remnants of previous seasons' herbage. The green leaves occur in several rosettes on the woody base. The hairless leaves are spoon-shaped with jagged, toothed tips and measure up to 3.5 centimeters long.
From the rosettes arise inflorescences on peduncles up to 12 centimeters tall. The showy inflorescence is an umbel of several flowers with tubular yellow throats and flat magenta corollas with five jagged or notch-tipped lobes. The fruit is a capsule.
Distribution and habitat
It is endemic to California, where it grows in the high mountains of the Sierra Nevada and Klamath Ranges. It grows in rock cracks, blooming in July and August.