Primula mistassinica
 
Dwarf Primrose

Leaf Top

Fir River Road, West of Hudson Bay
12-June-2014

Both Budd's Flora and Flora of Alberta distinguish this species from P. stricta.  However, V. Harms in Checklist of the Vascular Plants of Saskatchewan lists P. stricta as an excluded taxa which has never been found in Saskatchewan.  Putative specimens of P. stricta collected from Saskatchewan were considered misidentified.  In addition, the range for P. stricta in Flora of North American includes Manitoba but does not include Saskatchewan and Alberta.  Therefore I am identifying the species in this photo as P. mistassinica and have removed all answers dealing with P. stricta from the list below.

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Mistassinica: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora and Flora of Alberta leading to this species. 
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leaves petioled or merely narrowed to base; NOT [leaves with long slender petioles]

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leaves mostly dentate or crenate; NOT [leaves entire or undulate]

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leaves green on both sides; NOT [leaves with sulfur yellow mealiness on undersides] (BF)

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leaves often farinose beneath (FOA)

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flowers larger; NOT [flowers less than 1 cm across] (BF)

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limb of corolla 5-20 mm across; NOT [limb of corolla 5-9 mm across] (FOA)

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lobes of corolla 3-7 mm broad; NOT [lobes of corolla 1.6-4 mm broad] (FOA)

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mature capsule thick-cylindric to ellipsoid-ovoid; NOT [mature capsule slender-cylindric, tapering at apex, much exceeding the shallow-lobed calyx]

 

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Primula: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora and Flora of Alberta leading to this genus. 
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perennials; NOT [annuals]

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plant scapose, with a rosette of leaves; NOT [leaves all or chiefly cauline], NOT [plant matted, with a branching, slightly woody, caudex; leaves small, clustered at the ends of short branches of the caudex]

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flowers in terminal umbels of few to many flowers; NOT [flowers solitary or 1-3 on a peduncle, 1-3 cm high]

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sepals not reflexed

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corolla present; NOT [corolla absent]

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corolla tube equalling or longer than the calyx; NOT [corolla tube mostly shorter than the calyx]

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corolla-lobes erect or spreading; NOT [corolla-lobes sharply reflexed]

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corolla lilac or pinkish; NOT [corolla white]

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stamens separate; NOT [stamens more or less united, the anthers connivent around the style]

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style slender; NOT [style minute]

 

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Primulaceae: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora  leading to this family. 
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herbs; NOT [shrubs or trees]

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plants green or with some chlorophyll; NOT [plants parasitic or saprophytic, without chlorophyll]

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plants without milky juice

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plants not twining

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flowers not in heads or spikes; NOT [flowers in long or short spikes], NOT [flowers in heads or in form resembling a head]

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flowers with two floral rings

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corolla regular; NOT [corolla irregular]

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petals wholly or partly united forming a tube or bell

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stamens directly in front of corolla lobes; NOT [stamens alternating with corolla lobes, or twice their number]

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ovary superior; NOT [ovary inferior]