''Cortusa'' is a formerly recognized

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...

in the family

Primulaceae The Primulaceae , commonly known as the primrose family (but not related to the Onagraceae, evening primrose family), are a family (biology), family of Herbaceous plant, herbaceous and woody flowering plants including some favourite garden plants ...

. It is now regarded as a

synonym A synonym is a word, morpheme, or phrase that means exactly or nearly the same as another word, morpheme, or phrase in a given language. For example, in the English language, the words ''begin'', ''start'', ''commence'', and ''initiate'' are all ...

of the genus ''

Primula ''Primula'' () is a genus of herbaceous flowering plants in the family Primulaceae. They include the primrose ('' P. vulgaris''), a familiar wildflower of banks and verges. Other common species are '' P. auricula'' (auricula), '' P. veris'' (cow ...

''. It consisted of about 19 species of delicate, hardy, alpine perennials. The genus was named by the herbalist Matthiolus after his friend Cortusus, professor of botany at

Padua Padua ( ; it, Padova ; vec, Pàdova) is a city and ''comune'' in Veneto, northern Italy. Padua is on the river Bacchiglione, west of Venice. It is the capital of the province of Padua. It is also the economic and communications hub of the ...

, who discovered the plant originally called ''Cortusa matthioli'' (now ''

Primula matthioli ''Primula matthioli'', synonym ''Cortusa matthioli'', sometimes called alpine bells, is a flowering plant with a wide distribution in the Palearctic The Palearctic or Palaearctic is the largest of the eight biogeographic realms of the Earth ...

''. The plants are flowering herbaceous perennials native to the mountains of southern and eastern Europe, including the Alps and the Carpathians, with some species native to China. Most of the species are small spring bloomers for shade and rock garden. These low-growing and rather handsome little plants have clumps of downy, light green, heart-shaped leaves with serrated edges. In late spring, small loose umbel of delicate bell-shaped to lily-liked flowers born terminally on drooping spikes arise from the base, some 6-8in high. Flowers are magenta, pink, white and yellow. They are dormant in some months, and as spring begins, stems and leaves quickly start to reproduce.

Former species

*''Cortusa altaica'' = ''

'' subsp. ''altaica'' *''Cortusa brotheri'' = ''Primula matthioli'' subsp. ''brotheri'' *''Cortusa caucasica'' = ''

Primula algida ''Primula algida'' is a species of flowering plant within the family Primulaceae. This species was first described by Michael Friedrich Adams. Description ''Primula algida'' is a perennial species. Leaves are elliptic and grow from 1 – 6&nb ...

'' *''Cortusa matthioli'' = ''Primula matthioli'' (alpine bells) *''Cortusa sachalinensis'' = ''Primula matthioli'' subsp. ''sachalinensis'' *''Cortusa turkestanica'' = ''Primula matthioli'' subsp. ''turkestanica''

References

Botanica Sistematica
{{Taxonbar, from=Q195497 Primulaceae Historically recognized angiosperm genera