Authors: L.
The familiar cowslip. Leaves 5-20cm long by 2-6cm wide, ovate to oblong, abruptly narrowed into its stalk which may be winged and with the veins deeply impressed. Flowers 9-12mm across, bright deep yellow with an orange spot at the base of each lobe, two to sixteen in one-sided umbels on stems 6-20cm or more high. A widespread and familiar European and Asian species of which four distinct subspecies are recognised. The above description covers P.v. subsp. veris which is found throughout Europe except the extreme north, through central Asia and southwards to Iran. P.v. subsp. canescens is similar but with leaves grey-tomentose beneath, the leaf stalk winged and larger flowers to 2cm across. In lowland meadows from southern central Europe to southern Spain. P.v. subsp. columnae has the leaves densely white tomentose beneath. The flowers open almost flat at the mouth, l-2.2cm wide. Mountains of southern Europe. P.v. subsp. macrocalyx has a narrower, elliptic leaf which is narrowed into a long, winged petiole, the under surface hairless to slightly grey-tomentose, flower 1.8-2.8cm across. Asia to southeastern Russia and eastern Turkey. All subspecies are good garden plants which will naturalize when suited.
