Panarctic Flora

710103 Primula stricta Hornem.

• Hornem., Fl. Dan. 8, 24: 3, t. 1385 (1810). Holotype (C): Norway: Hedmark: "Tolgen", and Sør-Trøndelag: "Røraas", leg. Hornemann.
• Primula stricta var. obesior Norman, Special. Loc. Natal.: 87 (1868). Described from northern Norway. Internal note: More specific type information?

2n= (1) >90 (>10x). - Europe (Norway). - Laane (1967).
(2) 126 (14x). - Europe (N), Canada, Greenland. - Several reports.
Kelso (2009c: 294) reported 2n = 88-136 (126) for P. stricta with some discussion.

Geography: North American (N) - amphi-Atlantic - European (N): (ICE) NOR RUS SIB CAN GRL.

Notes: In the molecular analysis of Guggisberg et al. (2006), the 14-ploid Primula stricta grouped with the octoploid northern European (non-arctic) P. scandinavica, the hexaploid North American P. incana, and partly with the octoploid North American P. laurentiana. Kelso (2009c) discussed the possibilities of an American origin (from octoploid P. laurentiana and hexaploid P. incana) or an European origin (from octoploid P. scandinavica and hexaploid P. scotica). From morphological and phytogeographical considerations, we find an American origin the most probable.

Kelso: Primula stricta does not occur in Alaska. The westernmost arctic American location is at the Mackenzie River Delta - all the (unfortunately) many reports for this species in Alaska have been based on misidentifications of other species. Reference and discussion for this is given by Kelso (1991a).

Elven: Hultgård (1993) found two morphologically slightly different races within European P. stricta, one mainly in the northwest (including material from the type area) and one mainly in the northeast. The northeastern plant probably conforms to Norman's var. obesior. Variety obesior differs from P. stricta s. str. mainly in larger flowers. For that reason it has been mistaken for P. scandinavica Bruun in northeastern European Russia (e.g., in Novaya Zemlya) and is most probably the plant behind the many reports by Russian authors (including Korobkov 1980) of P. farinosa L. from these regions. Primula stricta incl. var. obesior is homostylous and highly polyploid, whereas P. farinosa is heterostylous and diploid to tetraploid. Primula stricta s. str. and var. obesior are sympatric in northeastern Norway but intermediates are not yet documented. Laane (1967) reported the chromosome number of 2n = >90 for P. stricta from a locality where only var. obesior is known in arctic northeastern Norway. There may therefore be some ploidy difference but there are rarely vouchers available for Laane's counts. This matter has to be re-investigated.

The European range of P. stricta s. str. is probably restricted to Iceland and Fennoscandia. Variety obesior occurs in northeastern Norway and probably entirely replaces P. stricta s. str. eastwards in northernmost European Russia including at least Kolguev, Vaigach, and Novaya Zemlya, and in northwestern Siberia.