1,000 plants, and the other three were estimated to be more than 

 1,000 individuals. 



MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS: Halimolobos virgata is probably more 

 common than has been documented because it blooms very early and 

 is so inconspicuous. The big sagebrush habitat is almost always 

 degraded by livestock grazing; however, the species has a 

 tendency to be weedy in some habitats (Rollins 1993) and may 

 increase with grazing disturbance. Current management practices 

 are probably not detrimental to populations of this plant. 



Primula incana Jones 



Mealy primrose 



DESCRIPTION: Idaho primrose is a herbaceous perennial with 1- 

 few, leafless stems, 6-30 cm (2-12 in) high, arising from a basal 

 rosette with fibrous roots. The narrowly elliptic leaves, 1-4 cm 

 (0.5-1.5 in) long, have toothed margins and short winged 

 petioles. Leaves are covered with a dense coat of white powder 

 on the lower surface and a light coating on the upper surface, 

 3-10 erect, stalked flowers are borne in a single cluster. Each 

 pinkish to lavender flower has a vase-shaped, 5-lobed calyx, 

 covered with white flakes and a tubular corolla, 4-8 mm long, 

 that flares into 5 2-lobed petals. The 5 anthers inside the 

 corolla tube are at nearly the same level as the stigma. 



Primula incana is very similar to P. alcalina; however, the 

 latter has white flowers and the anthers and stigma are at 

 different levels inside the corolla. A hand lens is required to 

 observe these floral characters. 



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