Primulaceae
Annual or perennial herbs, rarely shrubs. Lvs exstipulate, often all basal, otherwise alternate, opposite, or verticillate. Fls ⚥, usually actinomorphic, very rarely zygomorphic, solitary or in racemes, umbels or panicles, bracteate, usually 5-merous. Calyx persistent, sometimes foliaceous. Corolla gamopetalous, but sometimes split nearly to base, tubular. Stamens antipetalous, epipetalous; staminodes sometimes present. Ovary usually superior, sometimes semi-inferior, 1-locular, with basal, free-central placentae; style and stigma simple; ovules 1-many. Fr. capsular, variously dehiscent. Seeds endospermic.
Key
25-30 genera, 700-1000 spp., widespread but mainly N. temperate.
In addition to the genera keyed out below, spp. of 2 other genera are abundantly cultivated throughout N.Z. Primula L. is a large genus of scapose or caespitose herbs without cauline lvs. A number of Eurasian spp. belonging to several sections are grown, and deliberate attempts have been made to naturalise a few, mainly Chinese and Japanese members of sect. Candelabra. These are short-lived perennials with short rhizomes, a usually farinose infl. of distant whorls of fls on a tall scape giving a tiered appearance, and globose fr. In warmer parts of N.Z., Primula malacoides Franchet (sect. Malacoides) is very common and sometimes grows spontaneously and abundantly at cultivation sites in parks and gardens. Cyclamen L. has only radical lvs which arise from a tuber (often referred to as a corm) and the pendulous fls have reflexed corolla lobes. Several spp. of this mostly Mediterranean genus are cultivated and deliberate attempts have been made to naturalise the late summer flowering C. hederifolium Aiton (often known as C. neapolitanum).
