Flowering in June; fruiting from September to October.
Primula sikkimensis is close relative of Primula chumbiensis, but differs from the latter in its leaves thin papery or submembranous (vs. firm papery or subleathery), reticulate veins prominent abaxially (vs. obscure abaxially).
Primula sikkimensis is occurring in W Sichuan, Xizang, NW Yunnan of China, Bhutan, NE India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sikkim.
Herbs perennial. Leaves forming a rosette; petiole nearly as long as leaf blade; leaf blade elliptic to oblong or oblanceolate, 7-35 cm long, 2-7 cm wide, thin papery or submembranous, base attenuate, rarely obtuse or subrounded, margin crenate-serrate to dentate, apex rounded to occasionally acute; reticulate veins prominent abaxially. Scapes 15-85 cm tall, yellow farinose toward apex; umbels usually 1, occasionally 2, 2-many-flowered; bracts lanceolate, 5-15 mm long, base often gibbous, apex acuminate. Pedicel 1-7 cm long, yellow farinose. Flowers heterostylous. Calyx campanulate to tubular-campanulate, 7-12 mm long, copiously farinose; parted to ± middle, prominently 5-veined; lobes lanceolate to triangular-lanceolate, apex acute and slightly recurved. Corolla yellow, rarely cream-white, becoming dark green when dry, 1.5-3 cm long; tube slightly longer than calyx; limb 1.5-3 cm wide; lobes obovate to obovate-oblong, margin entire to emarginate. Pin flowers: stamens 2-3 mm above base of corolla tube; style ca. as long as tube. Thrum flowers with positions reciprocal. Capsule oblong, nearly as long as calyx.
The chromosomal number of Primula sikkimensis is 2n = 18, 22 (Sarkar, 1988; Sakya and Joshi, 1990; Nakata et al., 1997).
Growing in wet meadows, at margins of bogs and wet forests, streamsides; 3000-4200 m.
Primula sikkimensis (Himalayan cowslip, Sikkim cowslip, Chinese: 鍾花報春; pinyin: zhōng huā bàochūn) is a species of flowering plant in the family Primulaceae, native to the Himalayan region at altitudes of 3,200–4,400 m (10,499–14,436 ft), from western Nepal to south west China.[1] It is an herbaceous perennial growing to 90 cm (35 in) tall by 60 cm (24 in) broad, with umbels of fragrant yellow flowers, appearing in summer on slender stems which arise from basal rosettes of leaves. The flowers may be covered by a mealy-white layer (farina).
This plant is suitable for cultivation in partial shade, in soil that remains moist at all times. It has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.[2]
Primula sikkimensis (Himalayan cowslip, Sikkim cowslip, Chinese: 鍾花報春; pinyin: zhōng huā bàochūn) is a species of flowering plant in the family Primulaceae, native to the Himalayan region at altitudes of 3,200–4,400 m (10,499–14,436 ft), from western Nepal to south west China. It is an herbaceous perennial growing to 90 cm (35 in) tall by 60 cm (24 in) broad, with umbels of fragrant yellow flowers, appearing in summer on slender stems which arise from basal rosettes of leaves. The flowers may be covered by a mealy-white layer (farina).
This plant is suitable for cultivation in partial shade, in soil that remains moist at all times. It has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.
