Primula melanantha (Franch.) C. M. Hu

Although originally described as a variety of Primula nivalis Pallas and later associated with P. limbata I. B. Balfour & Forrest and P. russeola I. B. Balfour & Forrest, P. melanantha is much closer to P. purdomii Craib on account of its habit. It differs from all of the above mentioned species by its pubescent leaves and much smaller flowers.

Herbs perennial. Rhizomes short, thick, densely covered with persistent overlapping ovate-lanceolate scales, scales 2--6 cm. Leaves forming a rosette; petiole broadly winged, much longer than basal scales at anthesis; leaf blade oblanceolate, 5.5--12 X 1.5--3 cm, gradually narrowed to base, margin crenate-denticulate, sparsely or scarcely pubescent abaxially, densely pubescent adaxially; midvein broad, prominent abaxially; lateral veins slender, inconspicuous. Scapes 25--40 cm, puberulent, ± mealy near apex; umbels simple, many flowered; bracts 7--10 mm, basal bracts triangular, subulate-acuminate. Pedicel 1--3 cm. Flowers heterostylous. Calyx campanulate, 8--9 mm, parted to middle or above; lobes lanceolate, ciliolate, apex acute. Corolla dark purple; limb 1--1.3 cm in diam.; lobes oblong to oblong-elliptic, 6--9 X 2--4.5 mm, puberulent on both sides, apex obtuse to subacute. Pin flowers: corolla tube 8--9 mm; stamens inserted at basal 3 mm of corolla tube; style slightly exserted from corolla tube. Thrum flowers: corolla tube 1.1--1.2 cm; stamens inserted near apex of corolla tube; style reaching middle of corolla tube. Ovary globose. Capsule unknown. Fl. Jun.

W Sichuan (Kangding Xian, Zheduo Shan)

* Grassy mountain slopes; ca. 3500 m.

Primula nivalis Pallas var. melanantha Franchet, J. Bot. (Morot) 9: 449. 1895.

Primula melanantha là một loài thực vật có hoa trong họ Anh thảo. Loài này được (Franch.) C.M. Hu miêu tả khoa học đầu tiên năm 1994.