The Primroses and Cowslips have been in flower for quite a while now, they are a welcome sign of spring! Many in this family are attractive enough as a garden plant but I will also write about any other uses.
There are 5 known genera with several species in most genera:
- Primula spp.
- Hottonia palustris or Water-violet
- Lysimachia spp.
- Cyclamen spp.
- Samolus valerandi or Brookweed
Pictures by Mike Poulton, Matt Summers, Rudi Pilsel, Andy Purcel, Simon Atkinson, Chris Westhall and Wikipedia.
Sources of information from Plant Atlas Online (information about habitat), Wikipedia, Plants for a Future (PFAF) and other websites. Links are given. Large size names are plants which are native. The small size names are neophytes or archeophytes.
In the Contents, behind the name FBBC is added if the plant in question occurs in the Flora of Birmingham and the Black Country.
Medicinal Uses are given according to the Medicinal Flora of Britain and Northwestern Europe by Julian Barker. But take note that this is an educational blog and not a herbal self-help guide!!
Contents:
Primula native species are:
Primula vulgaris or Primrose FBBC
P. veris or Cowslip fbbc
Medicinal Uses according to the Medicinal Flora of Britain and Northwestern Europe by Julian Barker.
P. elatior or Oxlip fbbc
P. farinosa or Bird’s-eye Primrose
P. scotica or Scottish Primrose
P. × polyantha (Primula veris × vulgaris) or False Oxlip fbbc
Primula ‘neophytes’ or garden escapes are:
- P. auricula or Auricula
- P. florindae or Tibetan Cowslip
- P. japonica or Japanese Cowslip
- Primula pulverulenta or Mealy Cowslip
- Primula sikkimensis or Sikkim Cowslip
- P. x pruhoniciana (P. vulgaris x P. juliae) or Hybrid Primrose FBBC
Hottonia palustris or Water-violet FBBC
Lysimachia: native species are:
L. arvensis s.l. (was Anagallis arvensis)or Scarlet Pimpernel FBBC
L. europaea (was Trientalis europaea)or Chickweed-wintergreen
L. maritima (was Glaux maritima) or Sea-milkwort
L. minima (was Centunculus minimus) or Chaffweed
L. nemorum or Yellow Pimpernel FBBC
L. nummularia or Creeping-Jenny FBBC
L. tenella (was Anagallis tenella) or Bog Pimpernel FBBC
L. thyrsiflora or Tufted Loosestrife
L. vulgaris or Yellow Loosestrife FBBC
Lysimachia ‘neophytes’ and ‘archaeophyte’ are:
- L. ciliata or Fringed Loosestrife FBBC
- L. foemina (was Anagallis arvensis ssp. foemina) or Blue Pimpernel (archaeophyte in B.I.; neophyte in Ireland)
- L. punctata or Dotted Loosestrife FBBC
- L. terrestris or Lake Loosestrife
Cyclamen:
- Cyclamen coum or Eastern Sowbread
- Cyclamen hederifolium or Sowbread FBBC
- Cyclamen repandum or Spring Sowbread