YASIN J. NASIR

Perennis 6–12 cm alta, efarinosa. Folia 25–30 x 7–11 mm, obovato-cuneata, denticulata, utrinque pubescenti-tomentosa. albi usque ferruginei, 0.14–0.46 mm longi, articulati. Nervi laterales e costa adscendentes. Umbella 5–7–flora, usque 20 mm lata. Bracteae sub fructu 1.5–2 mm longae late ovato-acuminatae, margine glandulosa, basi haud gibbosa. Pedicelli obsoleti. Calyx sub fructu c. 4.5 mm longus, indistincte 5–costatus, campanulatus, usque circiter ad dimidiam partem fissus, lobis lanceolatis purpureo-tinctis. Corollae lobi obcordati. Capsule ovoidea, in calyce inclusa. Semina 30-35 pro capsule, 0.5–0.6 mm longa, reticulato-vesiculosa, brunneo-nigra.

Perennial 6-12 cm tall, efarinose. Leaves 25-30 x 7-11 mm, obovate-cuneate, denticulate, pubescent-tomentose on both surfaces. Hairs white to rusty, 0.14-0.46 mm long, articulate. Lateral nerves, from the midrib, ascending. Umbel 5-7-flowered and up to 20 mm broad. Bracts 1.5-2 mm long in fruit, broadly ovate-acuminate, margin glandulose, base not gibbous. Pedicels obsolete. Calyx c. 4.5 mm long in fruit, faintly 5-ribbed, ± campanulate, c. ½ cleft in to lanceolate lobes; lobes purplish tinged. Corolla lobes obcordate. Capsule ovoid, ± included in the calyx. Seeds from 30-35 per capsule, 0.5-0.6 mm long, reticulate-vesiculose, brown-black.

Holotype: Kurram vy., Shalizan, Aitchison 352 in 1879 (GH!).

Distribution: Kurram valley.

The new species is akin to Primula denticulate, in several respects as follows: (1) The leaves in the new species are efarinose; admittedly in Primula denticulate the farina may be lost with age, but farino-potent glands are evident on the under surface of the leaf. (2) The leaves vary from pubescent to ± dense tomentose. The hairs here are longer, denser and often with a rusty tinge. They are uniformly confined to the leaf surface and not restricted to the midrib and veinlets only as in Primula denticulate. (3) The lateral nerves from the midrib are ascending and not ± spreading as in Primula denticulate. (4) The capitate flowering heads are smaller and fewer flowered. In Primula denticulate the heads vary from 3-4.5 cm broad and are dense flowered. (5) The seed is reticulate-vesiculose (not vesiculose).

In facies Primula denticuloides also bears resemblance to Primula capitellata and Primula baldschuanica Fedtsch. The former differs in the farinose nature, the gibbous bracts and the obtuse tipped calyx lobes. The latter agrees to the calyx shape, but differs in the longer pedicels and bract shape