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Botanical Description

This species resembles a cortusoides primula in its clump-forming habit and leaf, but is very variable in flower, the worst expressions having tiny corollas lost in a large green calyx. Garden-worthy forms have long-stalked, rounded, deeply lobed leaves up to 6cm across. Stems 5-15cm high bear large, fairly dense umbels of pink, yellow-eyed flowers, each one about 12mm wide. North western Himalaya; Kashmir to Nepal and Bhutan; in varied habitats from open hillsides to shady rock ledges and open woodland. A.r. var. elegans is dwarfer and more slender and more desirable for the rock garden but generally short-lived. Pakistan.

a, A. lactea; b, A. rotundifolia; c, A. sarmentosa; d, A. villosa;