Everything about Primula Veris totally explained
Primula veris (
Cowslip;
syn. Primula officinalis Hill) is a
flowering plant in the
genus Primula. The species is native throughout most of temperate
Europe and
Asia, and although absent from more northerly areas including much of northwest
Scotland, it reappears in northernmost
Sutherland and
Orkney.
It is a low growing
herbaceous perennial plant with a rosette of
leaves 5-15 cm long and 2-6 cm broad. The deep yellow
flowers are produced in the
spring between April and May; they're in clusters of 10-30 together on a single stem 5-20 cm tall, each flower 9-15 mm broad. Red-flowered plants do occur, very rarely.
It is frequently found on more open ground than
Primula vulgaris (Primrose) including open fields, meadows, and coastal
dunes and
clifftops. It is often included in wild-flower seed mixes used to landscape
motorway banks and similar civil engineering earth-works where it may be seen in dense stands.
It may be confused with the closely related
Primula elatior (Oxlip) which has a similar general appearance although the Oxlip has larger, pale yellow flowers more like a Primrose, and a
corolla tube without folds.
Cowslip is a favourite food of wild
rabbits.
Folklore, herbalism, and cultural references
It is used medicinally as a
diuretic, an
expectorant, and an
antispasmodic, as well as for the treatment of
headaches,
whooping cough,
tremors, and other conditions. However it can have irritant effects in people who are
allergic to it
Cowslips were made into
wine, and also to flavour conventional wines.
An ancient name for the plant is "paigle" (origin unknown). Another name, herb Peter, derives from the tale of
St. Peter dropping the keys to the
Gates of Heaven, with the cowslip springing from the spot.
In the nineteenth century, cowslips were used as a
garland on
maypoles.
The Cowslip is the
county flower of four counties in
England, these are
Essex,
Northamptonshire,
Surrey, and
Worcestershire.
Norwegian poet
John Paulsen wrote a poem entitled "
Med en primula veris" ("With a primula veris"), later popularized by famous composer
Edvard Grieg through a song in his opus 26.
Cuisine
Cowslip leaves have been traditionally used in
Spanish cooking as a salad green. Uses in
English cookery includes using the flowers to flavour country wine and vinegars; sugared to be a sweet or eaten as part of a composed salad while the juice of the cowslip is used to prepare
tansy for frying. The close cousin of the cowslip, the
primrose (
P. vulgaris), has often been confused with the cowslip and its uses in cuisine are similar with the addition of its flowers being used as a colouring agent in desserts.
Further Information
Get more info on 'Primula Veris'.
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