Syn.: Aretia auriculata (L.) Link, Auricula-ursi auricula (L.) Soják
Family: Primulaceae Vent.
Distribution: European species, occurs in mountain areas – Alps, Jura, Apennines, Carpathians, mountains of Balkan Peninsula.
Ecology: Grows on rocks and screes, from mountains to alpine zone, up to 2500 m. Flowers from April to June.
Description: A perennial herb with an erect stem, 5–20 cm high, shortly downy and often mealy. The basal leaves in a rosette are entire, rounded to ovate-obotave, grey-green, leathery. The flowers in an umbel, funnel-shaped, yellow. The fruit is a capsule.
Threat and protection: The Bear’s-ear is a strictly protected plant in some countries (A, CH, D, I, SK, SLO).
Note: Many colour forms are often cultivated in the gardens.
These images were taken in Slovakia, Malá Fatra (June 13, 2004).
