Real cowslip
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Common cowslip ( Primula veris ) |
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The Cowslip ( Primula Veris ) is a plant from the genus of primrose ( Primula ) in the family of Primrose (Primulaceae). It is widespread in large parts of Europe and the Middle East.
The Hamburg Nature Conservation Foundation named the real cowslip Flower of the Year 2016.
Common names
Further common names (popular names) are meadow primrose , spring cowslip (Switzerland), meadow cowslip , medicinal cowslip and sky key . For the origin of the name cowslip, which has existed since at least the 15th century. is documented, there are different interpretations. Including the similarity of the whole inflorescence with a key, the flowers represent the key tube itself the key blade and the stem or by the similarity of the umbel with a bunch of keys , the individual flowers probably represent the keys. The name of the sky key, which has been used since at least the 12th century. is proven, is probably related to Peter and his key to the kingdom of heaven.
description
Appearance and leaf
The real cowslip grows as a perennial , herbaceous plant that reaches heights of 8 to 30 centimeters and is mostly found in smaller and larger groups. It winters with a perennial, thick, short rhizome . The vegetative parts of the plant are often downy hairy but not floured.
The leaves are arranged in a basal rosette. The leaf blade narrows more or less suddenly towards the winged petiole. The thin, simple leaf blade develops a length between 5 and 20 centimeters, the width measures 2 to 6 centimeters. Their shape varies from ovoid to ovoid-elongated. The tip of the leaf is blunt to pointed. The dark green, with simple trichomes downy hairy leaf upper side has a wrinkled structure. The underside of the leaf, which is also hairy, is light green in color. The wavy and irregularly serrated leaf margin is rolled down on young leaves.
Inflorescence and flower
The flowering period extends from April to June (Germany and the north) or from February to May (Austria, Switzerland, Slovenia etc.). Five to twenty flowers are arranged in a terminal and one-sided, simple umbel . The more or less long, finely haired inflorescence stem is leafless. The bracts are flat and uneven. The upright to nodding, hairy flower stalks are one to three times as long as the bracts with a length of 3 to 20 millimeters.
The hermaphrodite flower is radially symmetrical and five-fold with a double flower envelope . The five pale green, 0.8 to 2 centimeters long sepals are bulbous and broad-bell-shaped fused. The five yolk yellow petals are fused to form a tube at their base. With a length of 8 to 20 millimeters, the corolla tube is at most as long as the calyx. The crown throat has a diameter of 8 to 28 millimeters. The five plate-shaped, 8 to 14 mm long coronet lobes have an orange-colored spot at their base and are slightly edged to clearly notched at the top. The five stamens are fused with the corolla tube. Five carpels have become a top permanent, single-chamber ovary overgrown. In the center of the ovary is the thick placenta on which the ovules are located.
Fruit and seeds
A 5 to 10 mm long capsule fruit , surrounded by the calyx, develops from the ovary . It is about half as long as the enduring calyx, its shape is ovoid and slightly bulbous. When ripe, the capsule opens with ten capsule teeth and releases the numerous seeds. The seeds have tiny vesicles.
Chromosome number
For European populations, chromosome numbers of 2n = 22 are given. 2n = 24 was also found less frequently.
Distinguishing features of a similar kind
The characteristics with which the real cowslip differs, among other things, from the high cowslip ( Primula elatior ) are the yolk yellow, strongly scented flowers with their five orange spots (sap marks) in the throat of the flower. The cowslip, on the other hand, has a less fragrance and the throat of its flowers is golden yellow. The cowslip is pale green, bulbous and bell-shaped in the cowslip, while in the cowslip it lies close to the petals.
ecology
The real cowslip is a rosette plant with onion-shaped renewal buds. The strong storage rhizome is fairly vertical and may branch out in the 2nd year.
Ecologically flowers , the flowers represent handle plate flowers. The flowers of Primula veris is Heterostylie ago. It forms different flower types with two different stylus lengths and stamen positions. One type of flower has a long style and stamens that are deep in the corolla tube. The headed scar is at the entrance to the corolla tube. The other flower type has a short style, the stamens are located much higher here and end at the corolla tube entrance. Heterostyly serves to avoid neighboring pollination - genetically equivalent to self-pollination - and thus to support cross- pollination . The pollination is done by langrüsselige insects like bumblebees or butterflies. The corolla is colored yellow by flavonoids with orange, fragrant sap marks. The pollen grains are very small.
The seeds have tiny vesicles and are spread out by the wind. The seeds need cold and light to germinate .
Food plant
The Cowslip serves several caterpillars as a forage crop, including the bead of silver gray Bandeule , and dry grass Busch-called Bandeule ( Epilecta linogrisea ) and the primrose cubes moth , both in their vulnerable stock types.
Occurrence
This lime-loving species occurs all over Europe and the Middle East , only in the south of the Mediterranean countries and in the far north it is not native. In Central Europe it is largely absent in the lowlands west of the Elbe, in the rest of the lowlands it is rare, as well as in areas with limestone-free rock. In the rest of Central Europe it occurs scattered.
The preferred locations are rains, semi- arid grasslands , dry meadows, light deciduous forests, forest edges and woodlands, in particular of herb-rich oak forests, central European downy oak forests, west-sub-Mediterranean downy oak forests, hornbeam forests or even sedge-beech forests. It rises from the plain to altitudes of 1700 meters. The real cowslip thrives best on calcareous, low -nitrogen, loose loam soils with plenty of humus .
Systematics
The first publication of Primula veris was made in 1753 by Carl Linnaeus in Species Plantarum . The generic name Primula comes from Primus for "the first" epithet veris is derived from ver for spring; Primula veris means “the first of spring”.
Primula veris belongs to the Primula section from the subgenus Primula in the genus Primula .
Of Primula veris there are the following types:
- Primula veris subsp. macrocalyx (Bunge) Lüdi (Syn .: Primula macrocalyx Bunge , Primula officinalis var. macrocalyx (Bunge) C. Koch , Primula uralensis Fisch. ex Rchb. ): It is regarded by some authors as a separate species, Primula macrocalyx Bunge . It occurs in Russia, Ukraine, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkey and Iran.
- Primula veris subsp. suaveolens (Bertol.) Gutermann & Ehrend. (Syn .: Primula columnae Ten. , Primula suaveolens Bertol. , Primula suaveolens subsp. Thomasinii ( Gren. & Godr. ) Nyman (the autonym Primula suaveolens subsp. Suaveolens created at the same time as this name, published in 1881, is the basis of the oldest available in the subspecies and thus valid epithets ), Primula veris subsp. columnae (Ten.) Lüdi ): It occurs among others in Spain, Italy, Greece and Turkey.
- Primula veris L. subsp. veris
- Primula veris subsp. canescens (Opiz) Hayek ex Lüdi ( Syn . : Primula canescens Opiz )
Hybrids
The real cowslip ( Primula veris ) can form hybrids with the stemless cowslip ( Primula vulgaris ) , which are called Primula × polyantha Mill. Or Primula × variabilis Goupil non Bastard and stand between the parent species in terms of both morphological and ecological characteristics. The hybrid is often overlooked or wrongly determined. A scientific work from Switzerland shows that Primula × variabilis is not uncommon in Ticino and can always be found with its parent species.
use
As a medicinal plant
Primrose flowers contain small amounts of saponins , about three percent flavonoids - especially rutoside -, carotenoids and traces of essential oil . The roots contain three to twelve percent triterpene saponins , for example primulasaponin or primacrosaponin , phenol glycosides such as primulaverine and rare sugars . The triterpene saponins have an irritating effect on the gastric mucosa . This effect should reflexively stimulate the bronchial mucosa via nerve fibers to produce more mucus. This dilutes the secretion and makes it easier to cough up. Cowslip extracts are mainly used as accompanying symptoms for colds with slimy coughs and runny nose. As side effects of the application, stomach pain and nausea as well as allergic skin reactions could be determined.
Fresh, young cowslips can also be added to salads.
As an ornamental plant
The real cowslip is occasionally used as an ornamental plant . Groups of trees, borders and rock gardens in full sun are suitable locations. Propagation takes place by sowing. It is also used as a cut flower in bouquets.
Others
The rhizomes were also used for sneezing powder in the past . In Switzerland and Austria, Easter eggs are also colored with the flowers of the cowslips in boiling water . You should refrain from collecting the plant, as it is regionally endangered and, for example, is particularly protected under the German Federal Species Protection Ordinance.
Cultural meaning
In popular belief, the real cowslip was considered a means of protection and fertility. In Germanic mythology it was one of the plants loved and protected by elves and mermaids . There is also a story of a legendary figure, the key maiden, who wears a large golden key on her crown and gives the plant the gift of tracking down hidden treasures.
Poetry and music
The name "sky key" also refers to the fact that this type of plant is one of the spring herbs that open the sky.
The plant is also pictorially mentioned in the text of the St. John Passion by Johann Sebastian Bach (Bach Works Catalog 245, No. 31) in a bass arioso with the words:
- Behold, my soul, with anxious pleasure,
- With bitter lust and a half-oppressed heart,
- Your greatest good in Jesus' pain,
- As you stab thorns,
- The cowslips bloom!
- You can break a lot of sweet fruit from its wormwood,
- So look at him without ceasing!
literature
- Sylvia Kels: Primulaceae. In: Flora of North America Editorial Committee (Ed.): Flora of North America North of Mexico . Volume 8: Magnoliophyta: Paeoniaceae to Ericaceae . Oxford University Press, New York / Oxford a. a. 2009, ISBN 978-0-19-534026-6 , Primula veris, p. 301 (English, online ).
- Gertrud Scherf: meadow flowers. The somewhat different nature guide. BLV, Munich 2004, ISBN 3-405-16909-7 .
- Erich Müller, Helmut Sauer: House book of natural medicine. Healthy and productive thanks to the healing powers of nature. Pawlak, Herrsching 1987, ISBN 3-88199-341-X .
- Bertram Münker: Wildflowers (= Steinbach's natural guide ). Mosaik, Munich 1996, ISBN 3-576-10563-8 .
- Siegfried Bäumler: Medicinal plants practice today - portraits, recipes, application. Elsevier Urban & Fischer, Munich 2007, ISBN 978-3-437-57270-8 , p. 366.
- Ruprecht Düll , Herfried Kutzelnigg : Pocket dictionary of plants in Germany and neighboring countries. The most common Central European species in portrait . 7th, corrected and enlarged edition. Quelle & Meyer, Wiebelsheim 2011, ISBN 978-3-494-01424-1 .
- Dietmar Aichele, Heinz-Werner Schwegler: The flowering plants of Central Europe . 2nd Edition. tape 3 : Evening primrose plants to reddish plants . Franckh-Kosmos, Stuttgart 2000, ISBN 3-440-08048-X .
Web links
- Primula veris L., meadow primrose. In: FloraWeb.de.
- Primula veris subsp. veris sl, meadow primrose (subspecies). In: FloraWeb.de.
- Primula veris L. s. l. In: Info Flora , the national data and information center for Swiss flora . Retrieved January 17, 2016.
- Thomas Meyer: Cowslip data sheet with identification key and photos at Flora-de: Flora von Deutschland (old name of the website: Flowers in Swabia )
- Literature on Primula veris in the Kew Bibliographic Databases. (English)
- The real cowslip in the pharmacist's newspaper. ( Memento from May 26, 2003 in the Internet Archive )
- The use of the cowslip in folk medicine.
- The primrose as a medicinal plant: ingredients - application - expert interview.
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b c Eckehart J. Jäger, Friedrich Ebel, Peter Hanelt, Gerd K. Müller (eds.): Excursion flora from Germany . Founded by Werner Rothmaler. tape 5 : Herbaceous ornamental and useful plants . Springer, Spektrum Akademischer Verlag, Berlin / Heidelberg 2008, ISBN 978-3-8274-0918-8 , pp. 294 .
- ↑ a b Eckehart J. Jäger (Ed.): Exkursionsflora von Deutschland. Vascular plants: baseline . Founded by Werner Rothmaler. 20th, revised and expanded edition. Spektrum Akademischer Verlag, Heidelberg 2011, ISBN 978-3-8274-1606-3 .
- ↑ Primula veris at Tropicos.org. In: IPCN Chromosome Reports . Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis
- ↑ Carl von Linné: Species Plantarum. Volume 1, Lars Salvius, Stockholm 1753, p. 142 ( digitized version ).
- ↑ Primula veris at Tropicos.org. Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis
- ↑ a b c d e Primula veris in the Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN), USDA , ARS , National Genetic Resources Program. National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland.
- ↑ Karol Marhold: Primulaceae. Primula veris. In: Euro + Med Plantbase - the information resource for Euro-Mediterranean plant diversity. Berlin 2011.
- ^ AA Fedorov: Primula. In: BK Shishkin, EG Bobrov (ed.): Flora of the USSR. Founded by Vladimir Leontyevich Komarov. Volume XVIII: Metachlamydeae (Ericaceae - Asclepiadaceae) Israel Program for Scientific Translations / Smithsonian Institution and the National Science Foundation, Jerusalem / Washington, DC 1967, pp. 110–112 (English, translated by N. Landau; Russian original: Botanicheskii institut , Izdatel'stvo Akademii Nauk SSSR, Moscow / Leningrad 1952, pp. 145–148), digitized .
- ↑ Per Wendelbo: Flora Iranica. Flora of the Iranian highlands and the surrounding mountains (edited by Karl Heinz Rechinger). Volume 9, Primulaceae. Academic Printing and Publishing Company, Graz 1965, p. 4.
Lung Gentian (1980) | Yellow Daffodil (1981) | Red Forest Bird (1982) | Wild tulip (1983) | Summer Adonis (1984) | Wood Columbine (1985) | Arnica (1986) | Sea thistle (1987) | Marsh Calla (1988) | Carthusian Carnation (1989) | Mountain Sand Bells (1990) | Rosemary Heath (1991) | Round-leaved sundew (1992) | Checkerboard Flower (1993) | Broad-leaved orchid (1994) | Globeflower (1995) | Pasque Flower (1996) | Silver thistle (1997) | Crab Scissors (1998) | Marsh marigold (1999) | Purple Stone Seed (2000) | Blood-red cranesbill (2001) | Grove Violets (2002) | Kornrade (2003) | Alpenbellchen (2004) | Large rattling pot (2005) | Meadow foam herb (2006) | Bach avens (2007) | Nodding Thistle (2008) | Common Wegwarte (2009) | Siberian Iris (2010) | Moor lily (2011) | Heather Carnation (2012) | Hepatica (2013) | Swan Flower (2014) | Ordinary devil bite (2015) | Real cowslip (2016) | Corn Poppy (2017) | Long-Leaved Honorary Award (2018) | Common heather (2019) | Fever Clover (2020)