2012年1月12日

Primulina pteropoda (翅柄報春苣苔)

Below photos and article coutesy of Mr. Campbell, thanks for his sharing.

I got this mysterious Primulina plant from local researchers in Hainan in 2009, but I soonly found the foliage and the flower are different from what the researchers have told me that it was Primulina heterotricha (syn. Chirita heterotricha 煙葉報春苣苔). Earlier than 2009, the Primulina pteropoda was only known as a cultivar and the known type specimen was a cultivated plant in GuangZhou, China, and it possibly was introduced from GuangXi .... according to the Flora of China as no confirmation of its nature habitate yet.

Such supposition was identified as incorrect information until Primulina pteropoda (翅柄報春苣苔) was collected in Hainan Island, China in 2009. Then I read some data about Primulina of 2010 mentioned that Primulina pteropoda may be endemic to Hainan Island and my plant was collected at the central mountains of Hainan, so that my plant can be Primulina pteropoda with no doubt.

So far the wild population of P. pteropoda is considerable in its nature habitate. When no bloom is available, it is often mistaken as P. heterotricha or P. floribunda because somewhat similar to the foliage. Primulina pteropoda is magnificent plant with lime-yellow flowers during autumn to winter.