oxlips and cowslips whats the difference?

can someone please tell me the difference between Cowslips and Oxlips.

thanks

Mark

I know a few differences, but someone else (Baa?) probably will have it completely sussed.
The hairs on the leaves are straight in the cowslip (P. veris), but are curled on the oxlip (P. elatior)
The flowers all face one way in the oxlip, but face outwards in all directions in the cowslip.
I think usually the flowers of the cowslip are slightly more orangey
Scape longer in the oxlip (to 30cm) Only to 20cm in the cowslip
Just found a couple more - the oxlip must be generally bigger as:
Flower width Cowslip to 1.5cm Oxlip to 1.8cm
Leaf length Cowslip to 15cm Oxlip to 20cm
HTH :)

This message was edited Friday, Apr 19th 1:46 PM

according to my wildflower book 'Cowslip has small, often darker petals; Oxlip has large whitish yellow petals and a long capsule (seed head)'

lil

Baa is getting a complex!

Beware - not all Oxslips are Oxslips! As you will know Prims are promiscuous breeders and commonly a hybrid from P veris and P vulgaris will be named Oxslip. These are easy to identify because they take a Polyanthus form with large, outward facing, pale flowers.

The true Oxslip - P elatior is remarkably similar to the P veris but had its calyx lobes drawn out to a fine point and the ripe capsule is at least as long as the calyx. P veris calyx lobes are shorter. As Philomel pointed out the umbels are always secund on the P elatior, while this only sometimes happens to P veris.

thanks for the info peeps.

Mark

I don't know the difference so I asked a cow. She didn't know either but said if she ever met an Ox she would let me know :~}

thanks Zany! let me know when you meet the Ox

Mark

You are welcome Mark ;~) I let you know for sure!

http://davesgarden.com/showthread/238062.html

I think Evert has caught a clump of Oxslips on camera here.

so I must have Oxlips and not Cowslips like I thought. I'' look at the in the morning

Mark