7727: Leaves (natural site specimens)

Common origin of depicted specimens: see P. alpina 6927. Left: P. vulgaris, right: P. alpina. At common sites the two species can be distinguished in the non-flowering stage as follows: 1) P. alpina has strong, yellowish, perennial, roots, while the softer, whitish roots of P. vulgaris decay in winter. 2) The leaves of P. alpina are narrower and lack digestive glands over the mid-rib, while the larger leaves of P. vulgaris have a regular glandular structure all over their surface. P. alpinaflowers 2-4 weeks earlier than P. vulgaris.