Primula sapphirina Hook. fil. & Thomson, J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 20: 10 (1882);
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Central & E. Himalaya to S. Tibet: East Himalaya, Nepal, Tibet as per POWO;
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Common name: Sapphire Primrose
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Short-lived dwarf efarinose perennial herb. Leaves oblanceolate, 5-10 x 2-5mm, obtuse, base attenuate, margin pinnatifid-dentate, with scattered white hairs on midrib beneath or almost glabrous. Peduncle slender, 1.2-4.5cm, minutely glandular, bearing 1-2(-4) sessile, semi-pendant flowers; bracts lanceolate, 1-2mm. Calyx blackish-purple, 2-3mm, divided to middle into acute teeth. Corolla bluish-purple or lilac, funnel-shaped, 3-6mm long, limb 4-6mm diameter, lobes c 2mm long. Capsule subglobose, included within calyx.
Fl. June-August
On grassy turf on alpine hillsides, on rock-ledges and amongst Rhododendron.
(Attributions: A.C.J Grierson & D.G Long. Flora of Bhutan. Published by RBGE and RGoB. 1999 as per Bhutan Biodiversity Portal)
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Primula sapphirina: 2 images.
Primula sapphirina, a beautiful tiny primrose. The species name comes from its Sapphire blue color. Photographed above Tsomgo lake, Sikkim.
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References:
POWO Catalogue of Life World Flora Online BSI Flora of India (Sikkim) Flora of China FOC illustration Annotated checklist of Flowering plants of Nepal Flowers of India India Biodiversity Portal Bhutan Biodiversity Portal IBIS Flora (Flora of British India) Plant illustrations Primula world
