Revision of the Western Primulas

Abstract

In attempting to determine a specimen of Primula from Utah, which was received in a collection, it became apparent that a careful study of the related species was necessary. The study has been extended to include all of the species known to occur from the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific, south of Canada and north of Mexico. A short description of each entity, its synonyms, distribution and specimens examined are given. In a few instances so many specimens were seen that it was thought best to cite only a limited number of them. Professor M. L. Fernald's* treatment of the American representatives of the section Farinosae of Primula has been freely drawn from for species of that section occurring in the range of this revision. Thanks are due the curators of several herbaria for the loan of material and the privilege of seeing material in the several herbaria visited. These, with the symbol designating the specimens from the respective herbaria, are: P. A. Munz, Pomona (P); Aven Nelson, Rocky Mountain Herbarium (Ry); Bassett Maguire, Utah State AgricuIltural College (Utah); J. M. Greenman, Herbarium of the Missouri Botanical Garden (M); Theodor Just, Herbarium Greeneanum at the University of Notre Dame (ND); George E. Osterhout, his personal herbarium (0); T. J. Fitzpatrick, Herbarium of the University of Nebraska (N); F. W. Gates, Herbarium of Kansas State College (K); B. F. Harrison, Herbarium of Brigham Young University (BYU); Paul C. Standley, Herbarium of the Field Museum of Natural History (F); 0. J. Murie, his personal herbarium (Murie). Especial thanks are due Dr. J. M. Greenman for help freely given during the course of this study and for obtain*ing material from other 'herbaria.