Primula comata Fletcher

Herbs perennial, fulvous, pilose, lacking basal bud scales at anthesis. Leaves spatulate to obovate-oblong, 3--5 X 1--1.5(--2) cm, base attenuate to very short (less than 5 mm) petiolate, margin irregularly dentate, apex obtuse. Petiole of inner leaves slightly longer than leaf blade; leaf blade sometimes elliptic, base broadly cuneate to subrounded. Scapes 2--3 cm; umbel solitary, 3--12-flowered; bracts ovate-lanceolate, ca. 8 mm. Pedicel 1--1.5 cm. Flowers heterostylous. Calyx campanulate, 7--8 mm, parted to middle; lobes ovate, apex acute. Corolla blue to deep violet; tube 9--10 mm, pilose inside; limb 1.5--2 cm wide; lobes obovate, margin entire. Pin flowers: stamens ca. 4 mm above base of corolla tube; style ca. as long as tube. Thrum flowers with positions reciprocal. Capsule disintegrating at maturity. Fl. Mar.

W Yunnan (Zhenkang Xian).

* On rocks in forests; 2800--3200 m.