What is Primula?
{{taxobox |image = Prolećno cveće 3.JPG |image_caption = ''Primula vulgaris'' |regnum = [[Plantae]] |unranked_divisio = [[Angiosperms]] |unranked_classis = [[Eudicots]] |unranked_ordo = [[Asterids]] |ordo = [[Ericales]] |familia = [[Primulaceae]] |genus = '''''Primula''''' |genus_authority = [[Carolus Linnaeus|L.]] |subdivision_ranks = [[Species]] |}} '''''Primula''''' is a [[genus]] of 400–500 [[species]] of low-growing [[herb]]s in the [[Family (biology)|family]] [[Primulaceae]]. They include primrose, cowslip and oxlip. Many species are grown for their ornamental [[flower]]s. They are native to the temperate [[Northern Hemisphere]], south into tropical [[mountain]]s in [[Ethiopia]], [[Indonesia]] and [[New Guinea]], and in temperate southern [[South America]]. Perennial primulas bloom mostly during the spring; their flowers can be [[purple]], [[yellow]], [[red]], [[pink]], or [[white]]. Generally, they prefer filtered [[sunlight]]. Many species are adapted to [[Alps|alpine]] [[climate]]s. The word ''primula'' is the [[Latin]] feminine [[diminutive]] of ''primus'', meaning first (prime), applied to flowers that are among the first to open in spring. Primroses are used as food plants by the [[larva]]e ([[caterpillar]]s) of some [[Lepidoptera]] species. Some flowering forms of (cultivated) ''Primula'' are commonly known as polyanthus (''P. elatior'' hybrids) as opposite to primrose (''P. vulgaris'' hybrids). == Heterostyly == The common primrose, ''Primula vulgaris'', shows [[heterostyly]]. This is a type of [[Polymorphism|morphism]] with flower forms which differ in the lengths of the [[pistil]] and [[stamen]]s. The morph [[phenotype]] is [[genetic]]ally closely linked to genes responsible for a system of self-incompatibility.<ref>'closely linked' means close together on the same [[chromosome]].</ref> That means the [[pollen]] from a flower on one morph cannot [[Fertilization|fertilize]] another flower of the same morph. In one morph (termed ''''pin'''') the stamens are short and the pistils are long