Part 118 - Damthang to Ha via Ha La; rediscovery of Codonopsis near Hatö

1 page

SUMMARY:
After heavy rain, the writer reached Damthang and rediscovered a striking blue Codonopsis near Hatö village, planning to mark plants for seed and corm collection. The next day they returned to Ha via Ha La, photographed Meconopsis habitat, and noted abundant Polygonum vacciniifolia. A remark notes that Tasho remains unmoved by commendable deeds in Bhutan.

CONTENT:
deserves the thanks of everyone in Bhutan for what he has done. It leaves Tasho unmoved. He hardly thinks of such things at all.

16th August Damthang. We left this morning after a night of very heavy rain, at 9.30 were in Damthang at 1.30. The only interesting thing which happened on the way was the finding again of the very lovely Codonopsis which I got in 1937 under 3568. This we failed to find near Paro where originally taken, & was very worried about it. But here - just below Hatö village - we found many plants, & should have no real difficulty in getting seed & corms fit in October. I will in any case have them marked with stakes. The flower is most beautiful, a bright vivid blue, & bigger than Codonopsis vinciflora. This is shown up well by a wine red ring 1/2" diam in the centre of the flower, & a rusty brown large globular stigma. Otherwise it is just like C vinciflora. If we get this introduced, it should be a great attraction at home. The corms or tubers are like potatoes, & can be as much as 2" long.

17th August. Return to Ha via Ha La. The day started well, after heavy rain at night, & B & I got up to the Ha La by 9.30 in drizzling rain. But when we reached the place where Mec. superba grows, between the two passes, the sun came out & we had one hour quite bright again. During this I took some habitat photos of the Mec., which of course is now in unripe fruit. It was very pretty up there, as flowers are still numerous. The most beautiful is certainly Polygonum vacciniifolia sprawling over rocks & forming huge clumps of bright rich pink.