Primulaceae and Myrsinaceae
Androsace, Dodecatheon, and Primula are still in Primulaceae. Anagallis and Trientalis are now moved into Myrsinaceae.
The Primrose Path
The name primrose comes from primula rosa, the first rose. Clearly, however, the primrose is not a member of the Rose family (Rosaceae), but I guess primflor wouldn't have been a very good idea. Garden primroses are some of the first flowers to bloom in a nursery setting, and some of the first wildflowers to appear are members of the Primrose family.
Most likely you are familiar with the common garden primrose. I refer to them as "gas station primrose' because they are certainly common in the planter boxes at stations that want a little nicer look. Apparently they take little to no maintenance. They do make a colorful border addition when a gardener wants some immediate color while waiting for Spring. Primula vulgarus is a wildflower of England. The plant has been taken over by the gardening community and is now available in several bright colors.
Compare garden primrose to the weedy scarlet pimpernel (Anagallis arvensis) which is also easy enough to find in most gardens, or along a road in disturbed soils. The five petals are slightly reflexed (bent backward) while the stamens are exerted. There is also a distinctive center ring of color because each petal has a change of color toward the center. While this little flower is an introduced plant that is considered a weed, it is at least attractive and not armed.
Two Changes to the Prim Family
I
t’s time to mention that Anagallis has been shifted from Primulaceae into another family, Myrcinaceae. Trientalis, another common plant that people know as Starflower (Trientalis latifolia, shown right) has also been switched into Myrinaceae. These are our only two native plants that were changed, but the nursery plant Cylamen is also moved from Primulaceae.
Be sure to visit the Wikipedia page to read about the other plants in this group. It seems a strange group to include these two comparatively delicate plants, but hey, that's what keeps this stuff interesting, right?
What to Look For Early in the Season
There are only four native plants still in the Primulaceae family that you are likely to encounter in your wandering: there are three forms of Dodecatheon, commonly called Shooting Star, and one plant that is actually a Primrose: Sierra Primrose, Primula suffrutescens (top left photo). The several forms of Shooting Star are easily found, usually in wet grassy meadows or wet stream margins (but Henderson's is usually in dry areas). They are among the first flowers to appear, and they are found over a several-month period. Start looking in March along the hills above Nimbus Dam, and find them easily along Iron Mountain Road, Traverse Creek, Wrights Lake, Carson Pass, Pine Hill, and Grass Lake. These are very common plants.
The genus name Dodecatheon is from "Dodeca=twelve, and -theon=gods; the flowers are pretty enough to have pleased the twelve gods of the Greeks.
[back to top]