P. elatior or false?

KeenTeen17 · #1 (**permalink**) 24-03-2009, 04:14 PM

I found this today. Is it the oxlip or false oxlip. IMHO I don't think the flowers are big enough for the false. My Collins book says for oxlip that the leaves abruptly narrow at the base. The plant does this,

I don't think the flowers are small enough for cowslip either which isn't up yet in this part of the world.

Thanks for any confirmations

leifus · #2 (**permalink**) 24-03-2009, 06:42 PM

oxlip it is

LUCKY ....

i envy you soooo much

KeenTeen17 · #3 (**permalink**) 24-03-2009, 07:24 PM

wow!!!

my book says its a southern plant

leifus · #4 (**permalink**) 24-03-2009, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KeenTeen17

wow!!!

my book says its a southern plant

yeah mine says that too - its the only thing that doesnt fit in. Was it clay soil?

Tiggrx · #5 (**permalink**) 24-03-2009, 08:15 PM

Were did you find it? Real wild Oxlips have quite a limited distribution though they are occasionally introduced outside of their native range. I have to admit it does look fairly convincing.

KeenTeen17 · #6 (**permalink**) 24-03-2009, 08:46 PM

This was next to a brook in Lancashire. I checked the BSBI maps and there was a record in 1990s just south of Lancashire

Tiggrx · #7 (**permalink**) 24-03-2009, 08:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KeenTeen17

This was next to a brook in Lancashire. I checked the BSBI maps and there was a record in 1990s just south of Lancashire

According to the Vice-county Census Catalogue oxlip is recorded from South Lancashire as a neophyte.

KeenTeen17 · #8 (**permalink**) 24-03-2009, 09:03 PM

IMHO it was most likely escaped but it is still really nice to see this.

I think we got into that debate on the Purism thread.

I can definitely say though that someone hasn't gone and planted it or thrown it over a fence. I have checked all gardens even remotely nearby and there aren't any others growing in the flowerbeds etc.

IanS · #9 (**permalink**) 24-03-2009, 10:45 PM

I saw this plant in its normal home of Suffolk woods last year. Very elegant plant. Interesting that is is recorded for Lancashire, even if it is introduced there....

davidbr · #10 (**permalink**) 25-03-2009, 03:06 AM

I'd certainly agree that it was P. elatior and I, too, assumed it was confined to a pretty small area of East Anglia. According to the BSBI distribution map, though, there are scattered records from all over the UK (even some old ones from Scotland

)

Presumably these are escapes - an excellent find, nevertheless

BSBI map for Primula elatior