About Primula daonensis (Leyb.) Leyb.
Primula daonensis (Leyb.) Leyb. reaches up to 9 centimeters in height when flowering. Its flowers, borne on an upright stem, have notched petal lobes that are reddish pink or lilac, and most flowers feature a white star-shaped central eye. The species produces olive-green leaves with reddish edges; the leaves are narrow and oblanceolate, arranged in a basal rosette at the plant’s base, toothed near the tip, and slightly sticky from glandular hairs. This species is native to the Alps, occurring specifically in the east-central and eastern sections of the mountain range, within the countries of Austria, Italy, and Switzerland. It grows in alpine pastures on acidic soils, most often in areas with abundant granite rock, and can be found in rock crevices and on rocky slopes. It occupies mountain habitats at elevations between 1500 and 3000 meters above sea level. Both Primula daonensis and Primula hirsuta grow in the Alps, but P. hirsuta is found on calcareous, alkaline rock, while P. daonensis grows in its place on acidic rock such as granite. Natural wild hybrids are known to form between P. daonensis and four other Primula species: Primula auricula, Primula latifolia, Primula hirsuta, and Primula minima.
