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The Primula di Palinuro (Primula palinuri) is a small endemic plant of the calcareous cliffs of the Southern Tyrrhenian coasts, Basilicata, Calabria, Southern Campania and the particular area of Cilento National Park, Vallo di Diano and Alburni, of which the flower is also the symbol.

It is a rare, endangered plant, because it is considered a paleo endemism, which stands for a relict endemic specie dating back to the ancient quaternary, about two and a half million years ago; it is probably the only surviving plant of a primroses’ family originally spread on the mountains of Southern Italy, nowadays it is the only primrose growing in non-alpine environments. It grows in colonies along calcareous cliffs till 200 meters of altitude, preferably along the walls with a northern/north-western exposure, which are fresher and on the brink of rock breakings and ledges. Its diffusion is riduced and fragmentary, mainly along Campania’s coasts, from Capo Palinuro to Costa degli Infreschi, in the Calabrian coasts in the Scalea area, on the Dino and Praia a Mare islands, at Punta Caina on Basilicata’s coast.

Primula palinuri is characterised by a stout rhizome, a dense rose of flashy leaves with indented margins, cone-shaped inflorescence, it is 15-20 cm high and formed by pendulous, gold-yellow flowers, whose calices are powdery and white, blooming between February and March.

It pairs with other rupicolous species such as Centaurea cineraria, Crhitmum maritmum, Daucus gingidium, Dianthus rupicola, Iberis semperlforens, Limbarda crithmoides.

Primula palinuri is protected at a regional and community level, it is included in the red list filled out by the IUCN (Union Internationale pour la conservation de la nature).

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