Primula knuthiana Pax, Pflanzenr. (Engler) Primul. IV 237:79 1905. , figure 25
Section Aleuritia
Link to Flora of China description
Type specimen: Giraldi 839, 836, 4709, 7088, 4708, 4710 resides at Berlin ? (see comments).
P. knuthiana var. brevipes (syn): Pax, Pflanzenr. (Engler) Primul. IV 237:79 1905. Type specimen: Giraldi 839, 836, 4708, 4709, 7088 resides at Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (specimen E00024130).
P. knuthiana var. major (syn): Pax, Pflanzenr. (Engler) Primul. IV 237:79 1905. Type specimen: Giraldi 4710.
Epithet: Named for Reinhard Knuth.
Distribution: Shaanxi, China.
I am unsure if the type specimens at Berlin still exist. This species is close to Primula fernaldiana but differs by location, foliage and capsule length. It has a superficial resemblance to the European species P. frondosa and John Richards noted its resemblance to the Tibetan P. jaffreyana ( which is distinguished by having a 5 ribbed calyx). There is no distinction between the varieties. P. knuthiana is characterized by oblong-obovate to oblanceolate leaves, with a subrounded to obtuse apex, membranously winged petiole, crenate-denticulate margin, glabrous above, densely white farinose below. Scapes farinose towards the apex, with 2-30 pale violet flowers in an umbel, bracts linear-lanceolate, calyx campanulate, cut to just below the middle into triangular lobes without midveins.
