Pretty Primroses

Primroses are one of those small but sweet flowering plants, and their flowers are ones that I have been able to identify from a very young age, as I remember once asking my grandma when I was much younger, what a primrose was when reading Watership Down, and to this day, these flowers remind me of this tale.

Clade - Angiosperms

Order - Ericales

Genus - Primula

Species - Primula vulgaris

Primroses are small flowering perennial plants in the family Primulaceae. They grow to only 10-30cm in height, with a base of leaves that remain year-round. The primrose flowers are 2-4cm in diameter and they come in a plethora of different shades; from pale yellow, to white, or pink to violet! The flowers of primroses are actinomorphic, meaning they have a radial symmetry.

Primroses often bloom in very early spring, and are visible at various locations across the UEA campus at present, along with the snowdrops, daffodils and crocuses. "Primrose" is medieval Latin for prima rosa, essentially meaning "first rose", which may be in reference to the fact that primroses are one of the earliest spring flowers (note, however, that primroses are not closely related to roses).

P. vulgaris are native to western and southern European nations, as well as northwest Africa and southwest Asia. Primroses grow in woodland clearings, under hedgerows, in open grassland and prefer clayey soils.

Conservation:

The primrose is currently in decline in this region (East Anglia), which is believed to be the result of a series of hot and dry summer from the 1970's-present, and this sets a worrying tone for the future of the species in the light of ongoing an worsening climate change. Not only this, but poor management of woodlands and habitat loss are also threatening the species. However, as a total population in the UK, primroses are currently stable.

To halt further damage to the population of primroses in the UK, removal of primroses is now forbidden, and illegal under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

Fascinating facts:

1. In the "language of flowers", Primroses symbolise youth, fears, innocence, being forsaken and lover's doubts.
2. Flowers and leaves of the primrose are edible, and are used in teas and primrose wine!
3. It is the national flower of Devon
4. April 19th is "Primrose Day", in honour of Benjamin Disraeli (former Victorian British Prime Minister), who said primroses were his favourite flowers.