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Primula mistassinica

Michx.

Bird's-eye Primrose

G5Secure Found in 1 roadless area NatureServe Explorer →
G5SecureGlobal Rank
Least concernIUCN
UnknownThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.133453
Element CodePDPRI080D0
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
IUCNLeast concern
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassDicotyledoneae
OrderPrimulales
FamilyPrimulaceae
GenusPrimula
Other Common Names
Mistassini primrose (EN) Mistassini Primrose (EN) Primevère du lac Mistassini (FR)
Concept Reference
Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2024-08-20
Change Date1984-06-25
Edition Date2024-08-20
Edition AuthorsWeldy, Troy W., rev. N. Ventrella (2024)
Threat ImpactUnknown
Range Extent>2,500,000 square km (greater than 1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences> 300
Rank Reasons
Primula mistassinica is a perennial forb occurring on calcareous substrates in open meadows, on cliff faces, ridges and ledges, and along the shores of rivers and lakes of eastern North America from Alaska and the Northwest Territories east to Labrador, Canada south to Maine west to Minnesota, and historically in Iowa in the United States. There are over 700 occurrences of this species rangewide, which are threatened by development, changes to hydrology, recreation, rights-of-way maintenance, trampling, invasive species, browse, succession and other threats in some places. Little is known about trends, but with a large range extent, a high number of occurrences, abundant habitat, broad habitat preferences, and no obvious intrinsic vulnerabilities, Primula mistassinica is considered secure.
Range Extent Comments
Primula mistassinica occurs in northern North America from Alaska and the Northwest Territories east to Labrador, Canada south to Maine west to Minnesota, and historically in Iowa in the United States (FNA 2009, NatureServe 2024). According to FNA (2009), Primula mistassinica is the most widespread of the North American primroses. Range extent was estimated to be 8.8 million square kilometers using herbarium specimens, photo-based observations, and NatureServe Network occurrence data collected between 1993 and 2024 (GBIF 2024, iNaturalist 2024, NatureServe 2024, SEINet 2024).
Occurrences Comments
By applying a 1 km separation distance to herbarium specimens, photo-based observations, and NatureServe Network occurrence data documented between 1993 and 2024, it is estimated that there are over 700 occurrences rangewide (GBIF 2024, iNaturalist 2024, NatureServe 2024, SEINet 2024).
Threat Impact Comments
Although threats are not widely documented, Primula mistassinica is threatened by development, changes to hydrology, recreation, rights-of-way maintenance, trampling, invasive species, browse, succession and other threats in some places (NatureServe 2024). However, their overall impact is likely negligible given the species' broad range, large number of occurrences, tolerance of light disturbance, and affinity for typically abundant habitats, as well as no obvious intrinsic vulnerabilities.
Ecology & Habitat

Description

Bird's-eye primrose is a short plant that is visible most of the year as a small basal rosette of light green, spoon-shaped, toothed leaves. The undersides of the leaves are often white-powdery. When it flowers it produces a small cluster of small showy flowers at the end of a 6-10 inch narrow, leafless stalk. The five notched petals are pink on the outside grading towards yellow-white in the center. The fruits are five-parted capsules that persist late into the season.

Habitat

Primula mistassinica occurs on calcareous substrates in in open meadows, cliff faces, ridges and ledges, and along the shores of rivers and lakes (FNA 2009, Native Plant Trust 2024).
Terrestrial Habitats
Grassland/herbaceousCliff
Palustrine Habitats
FORESTED WETLANDRiparian
Other Nations (2)
United StatesN5
ProvinceRankNative
VermontS1Yes
MichiganSNRYes
MinnesotaSNRYes
IowaSXYes
AlaskaSNRYes
WisconsinS3Yes
New YorkS2Yes
IllinoisS1Yes
MaineS3Yes
CanadaN5
ProvinceRankNative
AlbertaS3Yes
LabradorS3Yes
Yukon TerritoryS4Yes
Island of NewfoundlandS4Yes
Nova ScotiaS2Yes
New BrunswickS3Yes
Northwest TerritoriesS4Yes
ManitobaS5Yes
OntarioS4Yes
QuebecS4Yes
British ColumbiaS5Yes
SaskatchewanS3Yes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
1 - Residential & commercial developmentUnknownUnknownUnknown
4 - Transportation & service corridorsUnknownUnknownUnknown
6 - Human intrusions & disturbanceUnknownUnknownUnknown
6.1 - Recreational activitiesUnknownUnknownUnknown
7 - Natural system modificationsUnknownUnknownUnknown
7.1 - Fire & fire suppressionUnknownUnknownUnknown
7.1.2 - Suppression in fire frequency/intensityUnknownUnknownUnknown
7.2 - Dams & water management/useUnknownUnknownUnknown
8 - Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseasesUnknownUnknownUnknown
8.1 - Invasive non-native/alien species/diseasesUnknownUnknownUnknown
8.1.1 - Unspecified speciesUnknownUnknownUnknown
8.2 - Problematic native species/diseasesUnknownUnknownUnknown
8.2.2 - Named speciesUnknownUnknownUnknown

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Plant Characteristics
DurationPERENNIAL
Economic Value (Genus)No
Roadless Areas (1)
Michigan (1)
AreaForestAcres
Government IslandHiawatha National Forest225
References (7)
  1. Flora of North America Editorial Committee (FNA). 2009. Flora of North America north of Mexico. Vol. 8. Magnoliophyta: Paeoniaceae to Ericaceae. Oxford University Press, New York. xxiv + 585 pp.
  2. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). 2024. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) data portal. Online. Available: https://www.gbif.org/ (accessed 2024).
  3. iNaturalist. 2024. Online. Available: https://www.inaturalist.org (accessed 2024).
  4. Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
  5. Native Plant Trust. 2024. Go Botany website. Online. Available: https://gobotany.newenglandwild.org (accessed 2024).
  6. NatureServe. 2024. NatureServe Network Biodiversity Location Data. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia.
  7. Southwest Environmental Information Network (SEINet). 2024. Collections Databases. Online. Available: https://swbiodiversity.org/seinet/collections/index.php (accessed 2024).