Primulaceae Vent. Primula. Plant specimen collected by N.E. Hansen, 1924. N.E. Hansen (1866-1950) was a Danish-American horticulturist and botanist who was a pioneer in plant breeding. Hansen came to South Dakota in 1895 and became the first head of the Horticultural Department of South Dakota State College. He also served as agricultural explorer for the United States Department of Agriculture. He searched for hardy grasses, fruits, and other plants throughout Europe and Asia and brought them back to the United States to raise or crossbreed with American varieties to produce hardy plants.