Primula prenantha Balf.f. & W.W.Sm.
Section Proliferae
Link to Flora of China description
Link to Nepal checklist
Type specimens: Cave 108; Gammie 208; King's collector s.n. June 1888 (Jongri) resides at E (specimen E00259793, E00259794, E00259795, E00259796, E00259797).
(syn) Aleuritia prenantha (Balf.f. & W.W.Sm.) Soják
(syn) Aleuritia microloma (Hand.-Mazz.) Soják
(syn) P. microloma Hand.-Mazz. Type specimen: Handel-Mazzetti 9215 resides at WU (specimen WU0059734 and E (specimen E00024074, E00024075). White flowered.
(syn) P. prenantha var. microloma (Hand.-Mazz.) A.J.Richards
Epithet: Named for being the smallest species of the Proliferae.
Distribution: Nepal, Myanmar, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Yunnan, Tibet(Xizang).
Described from western Sikkim, this efarinose species is distinguished by having small tubular flowers with the petals in line with the corolla tube on usually one umbel but sometimes two superimposed. Leaves are oblong-obovate, round at the apex and erose-denticulate at the margin with the teeth terminating in hydathodes. Primula prenantha has a large distribution and is uniform in appearance except in SE Tibet where possible intermediates with Primula morsheadiana or Primula polonensis occur, both species with larger, campanulate flowers. Primula microloma is a white flowered form collected once on the Salween-Irrawady divide.
