Abstract

This is a study of the Primulaceae of Taiwan. A. Henry (1896:57) listed eight species in three genera. Matsumura and Hayata (1906:220-223) listed ten species in three genera, Hayata (1916:43) listed seven cultivated species in two genera and twelve wild species in five genera.Masamune (1936:163-164) listed seven cultivated species in two genera and fifteen wild species in five genera, finally Masamune (1954:92-93) reported fifteen species in five genera. In the present paper we recognize thirteen species in five genera. The present work is based on the specimens deposited in the Herbarium of the Department of Botany,National Taiwan University (TAI) and the Herbarium of Taiwan Forest Research Institute (TAIF). A few species which are not represented by specimens in these herbaria,and not described in the present paper, are listed at the end of the paper. An analytical key to the species as well as short descriptions for the genera and the species are given. One new species is described,this was first collected by S. Suzuki in July 1929 on Mt. Taiping (Taiheizan) in Ilan Co. The specimen which he besignated as TYPE is his collection No. 132. Suzuki suggested the name Lysimachia taiwaniana for this species but so gar as we know he never published it. This species has been found in the mountanins of four of the northern counties of Taiwan.