Primula veris

Primula veris (Cowslip; syn. Primula officinalis Hill) is a flowering plant in the genus Primula. The species is native throughout most of temperate Europe and Asia, and although absent from more northerly areas including much of north-westScotland, it reappears in northernmost Sutherland and Orkney.

It is a low growing herbaceous perennial plant with a rosette of leaves 5-15 cm long and 2-6 cm broad. The deep yellow flowers are produced in the spring between April and May; they are in clusters of 10-30 together on a single stem 5-20 cm tall, each flower 9-15 mm broad. Red-flowered plants do occur, very rarely.

It is frequently found on more open ground than Primula vulgaris (Primrose) including open fields, meadows, and coastal dunes and clifftops. It is often included in wild-flower seed mixes used to landscape motorway banks and similar civil engineering earth-works where it may be seen in dense stands.

It may be confused with the closely related Primula elatior (Oxlip) which has a similar general appearance although the Oxlip has larger, pale yellow flowers more like a Primrose, and a corolla tube without folds.

Cowslip is a favourite food of wild rabbits.

Folklore and herbalism
It is used medicinally as a diuretic, an expectorant, and an antispasmodic, as well as for the treatment of headaches, whooping cough, tremors, and other conditions. However it can have irritant effects in people who are allergic to it

Cowslips were made into wine, and also to flavour conventional wines.

An ancient name for the plant is "paigle" (origin unknown). Another name, herb Peter, derives from the tale of St. Peter dropping the keys to the Gates of Heaven, with the cowslip springing from the spot.

In the nineteenth century, cowslips were used as a garland on maypoles.

The Cowslip is the county flower of four counties in England, these are Essex, Northamptonshire, Surrey, and Worcestershire.

External references

 * Charles Darwin on Primula hybrids, including cowslips and oxlips Accessed 8 May 2007
 * Image of yellow and red-flowered cowslips growing on a farm in Gloucestershire, England Accessed 8 May 2007

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