May 2021

7 Buckden Roundabout May 2021 The Primula family The Primula Family The Primula family are well known for their colourful displays in any garden, but their wild relatives can provide an equally spectacular show. The name Primula derives from the latin word prime indicating that these plants are among the first to produce flowers, providing a food source for the first emerging bees and butterflies. Most plants in this family produce flow- ers that are outwardly all the same but differences in the inter- nal structure mean that there are two distinct types of flower. The ‘ pin - headed ’ flowers haves styles that project from the centre of the flower whilst the stamen is hidden within the flowers structure. ‘ Thrum - headed ’ flow- ers are constructed the opposite way round with the sta- men projecting and the styles hidden. Probably the most well known flower of this family is the Primrose. This woodland flower is widespread throughout the UK and has various vernacular names including Butter Rose, Easter Rose and Golden Rose, although it is not of course a rose in the true sense. Normally yellow, varying from a deep colour through to nearly white, there is a pink variant that is known as rhubarb and custard. This flower also has its own day, April 19 th , which is the anniversary of the death of Benjamin Disraeli. Primroses were Disraelis ’ favourite flower and Queen Victoria regularly send gifts of posies of primroses to the statesman. Another member of the Primula family was once as common as the Butter- cup and found in similar rough grassland habitats, but the Cowslip has not fared well over the last century. Its numbers have declined with the industrialisation of farm- ing, the conversion of meadows to arable fields and the increased use herbicides causing a dra- matic fall its population. Like many other common species a certain amount of folklore is attached to the Cowslip, it was traditionally strewn on church paths for spring weddings and was used in the construction of Mayday garlands. It is also said to have curative properties with a tea brewed with the flowers used to cure headaches, a little ironic when a wine made from the same flowers is also understood to be excel- lent. As with the Primrose, the Cowslip has gathered to it many alternatives titles, amongst my favourites are Freckled Face, Golden Drops, Bunch of Keys and Fairie ’ s Flowers. A third member of the family can be found locally, but it was origi- nally thought that the Oxlip was a hybrid of the Cowslip and Prim- rose. This was dis- proved in the 1840’ s by experiments carried out by botanist Henry Dou- bleday. His work was verified by Charles Dar- win and published in a scientific paper con- firming the Oxlip as a separate species. Found in established woods around the border region of Cam- bridgeshire, Essex and Suffolk, this is the only region in the UK where this flower is found in any numbers, although it is well distributed throughout mainland Europe. All three of these species can be found on various local Wildlife Trust reserves, however please check the Trust website (www.wildlifebcn.org) before planning any visits as some re- serves are closed due to the incredibly wet winter we have just suffered. Greg Belcher Snr Reserves Officer, Wildlife Trust at Grafham Water Primula vulgaris—the common primrose Pink variant of the primrose Primula veris—the cowslip Primula eliator—the oxlip