Primula boothii Craib
Section Petiolares
Link to Flora of China description (as synonym under P. bracteosa)
Link to Nepal Checklist
Type specimen: Watt 2179 resides at Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (specimen E00024648).
Primula boothii Craib subsp. autumnalis A.J.Richards.
Primula boothii Craib subsp. repens A.J.Richards.
P. petiolaris var. nana (syn): Hook.f., Fl. Brit. India 3:493. 1882. pro parte.
Epithet: Named for Thomas J. Booth.
Distribution: Bhutan, Arunachal Pradesh, Nepal.
Confusion exists as to whether this species is distinct or synonymous with P. bracteosa. Both the Flora of Bhutan and the Flora of China, as well as modern Nepalese accounts consider these species the same. Primula boothii was originally found in Eastern Bhutan and into Arunachal Pradesh, but later collections from that area have been identified as P. bracteosa (or P. gracilipes). Primula boothii is distinguised by having efarinous leaves and an exannulate corolla. The type herabarium sheet shows this species has a short flower scape. Primula bracteosa also has a flower scape but later developes vegetative buds at the apex of the scape. The subspecies autumnalis is autumn flowering and from the Ghorapani area of Nepal and grows alongside subspecies repens which is stoloniferous and spring flowering. A white form in horticulture is called var. alba.
