This Month's Plant
March
Primrose - Primula vulgaris
Now that March is here primroses are popping up in lots of
corners of the Physic
Garden . Primula vulgaris
is a species of flowering plant in the family Primulaceae native to western and
southern Europe . Its common name is primrose
or occasionally English or common primrose to distinguish it from other Primula
species.
It is one of the earliest spring flowers in much of Europe . Its name derives from the medieval Latin prima rosa ,
meaning ‘first rose’ although it is not closely related to the rose family.
The delicately scented flowers which are typically pale yellow (though white or
pink forms are often seen in nature) are borne singly on short stems arising
from a basal rosette of leaves. The flowers are hermaphrodite but heterostylus.
Individual plants bear either pin (with the capita of the style prominent) or
thrum flowers (with the stamens prominent). Fertilisation can only take place
between pin and thrum flowers.
Over collection and theft from the wild has reduced natural
displays of primroses and picking of the flowers and removal of the plants is
illegal in many countries including the UK.
Both flowers and leaves are edible, flavour ranging between
mild lettuce and more bitter salad greens. The leaves can also be used for tea,
and the young flowers can be made into primrose wine. However, please don’t be
tempted to crop ours for that purpose!