Part 68 - Chubumbu La field notes on Primula and Rhododendron

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SUMMARY:
Notes on several Primula species and a Rhododendron near Chubumbu La, including observations on clonal rooting, flower color, and differences between high- and low-altitude forms. Distribution remarks mention areas south of the Himalayan/Main Range and comparisons to specimens from Mijitun, with a reference to Ludlow (1936) on Primula Elizabethae.

CONTENT:
Chubumbu La

looks as if it might be a natural hybrid with 3983. Usually it occurred in 6-8 plants together. These were rooted together - the roots joined. So it seems to reproduce its colour, if not from seed, at any rate by root reproduction.

3985 Prim. Elizabethae. Rightly described by Ludlow in 1936 as "a truly magnificent primula." In the field notes I mention how red all flower buds are, & also that some flowers keep this distinct tinge. In this case again (as in 3984) these plants rooted together all have the red tinged flowers. Very common, but in a limited area.

3986 Prim. prenantha. I have noticed before how these high altitude P. prenantha differ from the low ones, viz. from 3848. In the same way 2396 of 1936 did not appear to me at all like the specimens taken from Mijitun, No . The high altitude ones have larger leaves, larger flowers, & I do not think are ever Candelabra, having only one umbel of flowers. They are otherwise more robust.

3987. Primula Clutterbuckii. This seems the same as 3640 = 3756, but I am not sure if it is P. Clutterbuckii. It is common near the Chubumbu La.

3988. Primula kongboensis. Only seen on the South of the Himalayan Range.

3989. Primula Dickieana var. alba. White form. These had no purple or cream tinge, but the buds do appear to have a little purple in them.

3990. Primula barbatula. A smaller plant - leaf & flower to the type?

3991. Rhododendron aff. repens. This form only occurs South of the Main Range here. It has much smaller flowers, longer, narrower more pointed leaves, & is only 1 or 2-flowered.