Primrose With Four Petals

[minty]

Has anyone ever seen a wild primrose with only four petals.The one I found is smaller than usual and the petals are rounded and not heart shaped.The colour is the same and it flowers in the spring amongst the other wild primroses.

Minty

[Treehawk]

Flowers like this are not very common but I have seen several petal differences such as:
Scarlet pimpernel with 4 petals
Tormentil with 3, 5 or 6 petals
Lesser spearwort (commonly found with different petal numbers) with 4, 6 or more
Daisy family flowers seem to be the most often effected by it. I have seen a Primrose with 6 petals but never 4.

[minty]

Thanks for your reply Treehawk,
I wonder if seed from it would breed true.

[KeenTeen17]

Originally Posted by minty

Has anyone ever seen a wild primrose with only four petals.The one I found is smaller than usual and the petals are rounded and not heart shaped.The colour is the same and it flowers in the spring amongst the other wild primroses.

Minty

Could this not be an extreme form of False Oxlip? Seeing as it is a hybrid it wouldn't be impossible to have a four petalled version. Do you have a picture of the flower Minty?

[minty]

Thanks for your reply Keen Teen17 ,I don't think it is.It looks just likea normal primrose but smaller and just the four petals.The leaves do look a little longer and narrower.I do have a photo with it growing next to a normal primrose but have not got a clue how to post it on here, sorry, unless some one can help.

Minty

[Treehawk]

The easiest (only?) way would be to click on Gallery at the top of the page and then find the "Upload Photos" button above all the images, then once you have uploaded the image highlight and copy the "Forum Code" and paste it in here.

[minty]

Re photo of primrose with four petals, have attempted to upload one of my photo's in the unidentified section,having a job finding my way around being a newbie.Please note the primrose next to the four petal'd one also has very rounded edges rather than the slight heart shape you might expect.The flowers on both of these plants are also smaller than usual.

Minty

[KeenTeen17]

Originally Posted by minty

Re photo of primrose with four petals, have attempted to upload one of my photo's in the unidentified section,having a job finding my way around being a newbie.Please note the primrose next to the four petal'd one also has very rounded edges rather than the slight heart shape you might expect.The flowers on both of these plants are also smaller than usual.

Minty

I've found your photo and both your flowers are Primroses. The four petalled one must be a variation or aberrant.

[Treehawk]

I find abberations quite intresting, and I am collecting photos of such plants. I suppose it is all similar to the way a 4-leaved clover is formed. The strangest thing I have found was a double rose hip (it was like 2 stuck together).