The Vernales section of primulas, correctly called section Primula, includes our beloved primrose, cowslip and oxlip, which are usually, but not always, pale yellow. There are also some bright pink species from further afield - not to mention the polyanthus hybrids, with appallingly vivid colours, fortunately kept away from us in municipal plantings in the middles of roundabouts.

Primula elatior subsp. pallasii is a form of the oxlip that comes from Russia from the Urals eastwards, which more or less corresponds to Siberia. It differs from the usually seen forms in having leaves that are hairless.