Studies of the hybrid x polyantha
in progress
The Flower head arrangement
Left: Primrose (P. vulgaris)
Middle: Cowslip (P. veris)
Right: Hybrid False oxlip (P. polyantha)
With the hybrid to the far right you notice it takes on from both parent species (P. vulgaris x P. veris). At the first look it has the stance of a Cowslip, but when you look closer you note the colour of the flowers are much lighter than a regular Cowslip although they are not as light a yellow as a regular Primrose. So I find it best to look at it as a in-between as maybe expected with a typical hybrid.
Next the flower head arrangement stands out a mile as being different, again at first it gives off the Cowslip look but soon you notice the flower arrangement is different with the flowers at the end of long stems again a factor you notice with the primrose more so than a Cowslip, so again we have the in-betweener factor.
Just to clarify the difference in flower colours
Left: Primrose (P. vulgaris)
Middle: Cowslip (P. veris)
Right: Hybrid False oxlip (P. polyantha)
"A Club, A Spade and a in between"
"The leaf from above"
(Click over the photo to enlarge)
Top side of leaf
Top: Primrose (P. vulgaris)Middle: Cowslip (P. veris)
Bottom: Hybrid False oxlip (P. polyantha)
I have called the Primrose (P. vulgaris) the Club, because of the shape of the leaf. It is far more round at the top of the leaf than the other two which are more oval shape. The main factor of difference for me is that the Primrose leaf lies flat and does not show ruffling to the edge as you can see is very pronounced especially within the hybrid leaf. I have noticed this ruffling with all the leaves on the main study plant.
Click over the photo to enlarge
(above) Underside of leaf
Middle: Cowslip (P. veris)
Bottom: False oxlip (P. polyantha)
Note the "ruff" edging to the hybrid leaf, for comparison see below.
Bottom leave is from Primrose (primula vulgaris)
It is very noticeable that the hybrid (top) has a ruffled edge (crinkled), whereby the regular primrose (P. vulgaris) is almost flat in comparison.
The shape of the top of the leaf seems more rounded with the Primrose (P. vulgaris) compared to more oval in the Cowslip or the hybrid.
A really good pointer is the tapering of the lower part of the leaf on the hybrid is more gradual, and much more sharper on the primrose (P. vulgaris)
Another way to tell is that the hairs on the underside seem to be far longer in the case of the Primrose (P. vulgaris) and far easier to capture in a photo, than the shorter bristles afforded on both the Cowslip or the hybrid itself.
(below) Hairiness of the underside of the leaves
Left: Primrose (P. vulgaris)
Middle: Cowslip (P. veris)
Right: Hybrid False oxlip (P. polyantha)
The Primrose on the left seems to be much longer hairs than both the Cowslip or the hybrid.
