Showing 2 results

SUMMARY:
Entries describe halt days with valley explorations near a waterfall, noting Meconopsis bella not yet open, an iris with a very long tube, and abundant primulas. A hypsometer reading was taken at Bimbi La amid snow and rain, followed by a fine day in camp.

CONTENT:
6th June. Halt. Went up the valley, then turned right leaving the big waterfall on the left. There were three little nalas up there, with rocky sides, over there are a good many flowers. Meconopsis bella is there but not quite open yet. It should be open in a week or so. Danuong went down the valley, then up the left bank to the cliffs, which are about 1 mile or so below here. He found a very pretty little iris with an exceedingly long tube - tube about 4" or even more long. (1781). Iris kemaonensis. 1783, a bright pink purple primula (P. yargongensis) was also seen in numbers. Rain all day.

7th June. Halt. Took hypsometer reading of Bimbi La. BP. 184.2° Temp. 42°. Time 9.0 am. Ht approx 15492 ft. It looked as if it would be fine & was so till I reached the Pass, when it began to snow. From then on it was snow or rain with some sun till the evening when it really cleared up. Nothing new seen, but a form of Sikkimensis primula (1791) perhaps waltonii, or just a form. (P. vicosa). I stayed up wandering about for some time, getting back at 3.0 pm.

8th Halt. A perfect day, not a cloud all morning, & fine & sunny with clouds in the afternoon. Stayed in camp,

SUMMARY:
Notes on Primula and Meconopsis around Nyuksan/Nyaksung La, with messengers from Tawang and plans to go to Mago on 10 July. On 8 July at Sakden, the writer went with Danuong and a Kazi’s servant to Nyaksung La on the Mera road to bag specified Primula and Meconopsis numbers and pot seedlings, noting a scarce primula beneath overhanging rocks.

CONTENT:
18

Nyuksan La
Primula gambeliana (608), top, on the left under rhododendrons. A magnificent Meconopsis is also just below the basti, with Primula No 598 (P. waltonii). Its no. is 600 (Meconopsis grandis). There is also an interesting Primula (612) (P. strumosa), yellow, beneath the firs & rhododendrons short of the top. Danuong went up to a similar height on the Dirang Dzong road, & got very similar flowers. Messengers have come from Tawang, & all seems set for the next move to Mago, where we hope to go on the 10th July.

Nyaksung La
8th July SAKDEN. Went with Danuong again to NYAKSUNG LA, on the Mera road. Took one of the Kazi's servants, & put bags on the following: 598 Primula (P. waltonii) 6 Bags; 600 Meconopsis (Meconopsis grandis) 4 bags; 608 Primula (P. gambeliana) 5 bags; & 612 Primula (P. strumosa) 5 bags. This man is to return in the Bhutanese 8th month to collect the bags.

Megacodon stylophorus 633
Primula elongatoides 634
Primula bellidifolia 635

I have also potted the following seedlings: 598 (P. waltonii) - 4; 608 (P. gambeliana) - 4; 632 (P. strumosa) - 1; 635 (P. bellidifolia) - 1. The latter is an unknown Primula very like P. eburnea & growing in the same situation, under overhanging rocks. It was at the foot of the high cliff 500x short of the Nyaksung La on the Mera road, on the East side of the Pass & to the North of the road. The cliff is 200x away from the road. Only 5 specimens were seen, & all had last year's seed pods intact. These were collected. No more new flowers were seen. No 632 (P. strumosa) is a small