Primula elatior

Primula elatior
File:Primula elatior 170405a.jpg
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Mangnoliopsida Order: Ericales Family: Primulaceae Genus: Primula Species: P. elatior
Binomial name
Primula elatior Hill, 1765

Primula elatior, the oxlip (or True oxlip), is a flowering plant in the genus Primula, found in damp woods and meadows throughout Europe as far north as southern Sweden. In the British Isles, it is found only in the east, and mainly in East Anglia.

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 are in clusters of 10-30 together on a single stem 10-30 cm tall, each flower 9-15 mm broad.

It may be confused with the closely related Primula veris (cowslip) which has a similar general appearance although the oxlip has larger, pale yellow flowers more like a primrose, and a corolla tube without folds.