Primula clarkei Watt

One of the rarer primulas from Kashmir with the habit of a Viola L. It was last collected by Ludlow and Sherriff in 1937 from the type locality. Ludlow (1951) mentions that under cultivation this species developes a scape.

A glabrous escapose plant with a slender rootstock. Leaves more or less with a distinct petiole; lamina 12-40 x 22-40 mm, subreniform to sub cordate or orbicular-oblong, membranous, crenate-dentate or finely so, attenuate, nerves faint. Petiole up to 9.5 cm long, slender, more or less sheathing. Bracts 2-5 mm E long, not prolonged or saccate. Flowers rose-pink, 2-4 per plant, hetermorphic. Pedicel 2.5-6.5 cm long, not exceeding the foliage. Calyx 6-7 mm long, broad campanulate, glabrous, c.½ cleft; lobes c. 3 mm long, triangular-ovate. Corolla tube 8-8.5 mm long, limb 1.1-1.6 cm broad, lobes 7-7.5 x 6-6.5 mm, obtuse, obcordate. Style slender. Capsule subglobose, included in the calyx. Seeds less than 1 mm, minutely reticulate-vesiculose.

Distribution: Endemic.

Fl. Per.: May-June.