Showing 28 results

SUMMARY:
Mail from Sarshang reports mixed results with new Meconopsis seed: Hay and Sandeman failed while Anderson succeeded; Taylor comments on germination methods. The diarist moves from Camp Kangchukka on the Pele La range with detailed route notes, persistent rain, and remarks on Primula no. 3249 possibly being P. stirtoniana. Camps, meadows, and forest routes are described en route toward Rukubzhi and Longte Chu.

CONTENT:
11th June. Camp Kangchukka, on Pele La range. 10 miles. Ht. approx 12000' (To 12000 ft.)

Another mail came in yesterday in only 10 days from Sarshang. Not very good news about the new Meconopsis seed. Hay, Sandeman & Edinburgh have all failed with it, but Anderson & another man have some up. Taylor says they were too kind to the seed, & tried bottom heat. However other seeds are reported at nearly 100% germination. Rained last night, & fine this morning till 10, then rain all day. The only interesting thing seen was Primula no. 3249, which I have been taking for P. tenuiloba. But now I see its size, it cannot be that. This is a fine Primula, with big leaves - perhaps Stirtoniana, which I do not know well. Climbed up to E. on to ridge, then along ridge to South till m 2. Then down past an open glade through the forest below the ridge. At m 4 again along a ridge which is followed to m 6 where there is a large open grassy glade. From here up to the ridge again. At m 8 turn to the R. & down to a lush open meadow. Then descent through forest to a big open meadow & some temporary houses at m 10. A good camp.

12th June. Rukubzhi (To Longte Chu) 6 miles. Approx 9000'. Rained all last night, &

SUMMARY:
Camped on a steep slope near Chukar, the party finds the location friendlier than Mago or Tsena though lacking level ground. On a halt day, the writer went with Danang to nearby cliffs to collect primulas and delphinium, noted Thalictrum of Mago and the Tulung La Meconopsis, and arranged for a local man to care for specimens with plans to retrieve them from Trashiyangsi in October.

CONTENT:
67

is hardly surprising however. Our yak men are a deformed looking lot, but cheerful enough. Everyone here is pleasanter than in either Mago or in Tsena. I wish we had known of this place before. I'm sure it would have proved of great interest a month or more earlier. There is barely room for tents here, we are all on a horrible slope. If it rains hard, we will undoubtedly be washed out of our tents. But there is no level ground anywhere near. Probably a better camp would be beside the river, but in fact we did not go down so low, as I would have had a hard climb tomorrow.

19th August. Halt at Chukar. In the morning I went with Danang up to the cliffs, wandered about them hoping to find more than the three primulas of yesterday, but got nothing new. Bagged 16 of the new primula & 6 of the blue one. Also this evening bagged 6 delphinium. A local man is to look after them, & I will send a man from Trashiyangsi in October to retrieve the lot. I hope the scheme works. The pretty Thalictrum of Mago is growing here too & the Tulung La Meconopsis. Quite a good day on the whole, but

SUMMARY:
Notes prolific flowering and collections including a new primula (P. jaffreyana 2257), an iris (2251), Incarvillea lutea (2252), and Thalictrum chelidonii. Reports shortage of drying paper, and mail issues: the runner found no mail at Tsona but had a chit from the Dzongpen; outgoing mail was forwarded by the Dzongpen and more is to be sent via Chayul.

CONTENT:
Rhod. sanguineum 1881, R. campylogynum 1882, forrestii var. repens 1883.
Diapensia himalaica 1884, Prim. valentiana 1885. P. Elizabethae 1886 sp. nov.
Omphalogramma bathysepala sp. nov. 1887

...see how much more prolific the flowers were on this side. The most interesting things were a new primula P. jaffreyana 2257. Common to quite low down. A beautiful iris 2251, which I think is near the K.W.'s Karta iris, a queer lily-like affair 2252 (Incarvillea lutea), I don't know what it is.

Thalictrum chelidonii was in flower about halfway here, beautiful as ever. There were also a number of shrubs in flower too. Altogether yesterday I collected 20 different species. Now I have no paper left to put the dried flowers in. No mail turned up, but the runner is there. He found no mail in Tsona. We thought he was doing us down, but he had a chit from the Dzongpen which shows he was alright. Our last outgoing mail was still lying there, but both were sent on by the Dzongpen.

30th June. Halt. Sanga Choling. Another perfect day. Packed up mail to send off tomorrow via Chayul. Packed up as many dried flowers as possible, but have no paper; with this confounded tamasha going on, I cannot get hold of anyone. I now only have about 80 sheets of drying paper to play about with, which is...

[Marginal Notes:]
P. jaffreyana 2257
Iris decora 2251
Thalictrum 2253
Meconopsis 2256
Jeffreyana 2257
Tibetica 2258
Dracocephalum 2255
Primula 2255
Rosa macrophylla var. farreri 2259
Gentiana 2249
Cryptantha 2250
Clematis 2254
Gentiana tibetica 2258
Jasminum officinale 2261

SUMMARY:
On 8 August the party travelled 9 miles to Lungur (below the Tongu La) in heavy rain, noting glaciers and a snow mountain to the west; despite having six 'riding' yaks they all arrived on foot. The writer engaged a lama to collect seed of Thalictrum, Meconopsis and Primula (including a small Meconopsis near the Tulung La), purchased a local hat for 5 tankhas, and found two gentians and an Allium on the way down to Mago.

CONTENT:
tomorrow morning, so as we may examine
them and take photos. I purchased a local type
of hat today, price 5 tankhas.

8th August. To LUNGUR. 13035'. 9 miles. (the camp of July 22 below the Tongu La) Left in comparatively
good weather, but by 1.0 pm the rain came on very heavily
indeed, and we all arrived about 3.30 very wet, cold and
[Mago 8th Aug] pretty miserable. I have taken the lama with me
who will come on tomorrow too for a bit. I have
shown him, and told him to collect seed of Thalictrum,
Meconopsis and Primula and tomorrow will show him the
[mec. bella 708] other small mec (708) near the Tulung La. I think he
will manage to collect all. He knows something of
Meconopsis when they should be ready, as they eat
the seeds, and also the shoots before the flowers appear.

[Gentianella paludosa 776, " azurea 777, Allium aff sikkimense 778] Found 2 gentians today, and an Allium
and one or two other things not out on our way
down to Mago.

There are signs of a big
snow mountain to the west of Lungur up the side
valley. Glaciers can be dimly seen through the
mist.

Today we had 6 "riding" yaks with
us, but it is significant that all of us arrived
in camp walking. One never knows what a
yak may do. One minute he will be as docile
as possible, and the next he will have you off.

SUMMARY:
Field notes record collections of Meconopsis bella, Yellow Sax., Podophyllum, Cassiope sp., and Iris (chrysographes) at elevations around 12,000–16,000 ft near Laha, Dichungha, Kyimpu, and Trim. Entries include dates (2/10, 4/10, 5/10, 6/10), brief habitat descriptions, and a note of few seeds for Yellow Sax.

CONTENT:
Meconopsis bella. Laha. 14000' 2/10.
Yellow Sax. few seeds. 16000' 2/10.
Mec. bella. " " 14500 4/10. Dichungha.
Mec (probably 2451.) 15500' 5/10 - Open stony hillside.
Podophyllum. Kyimpu. 12500. 4/10 On stream banks under trees.
Cassiope sp. Dichungha. 14500' 4/10 Among dwarf rhodo. Open hillside.
Iris (chrysographes). Trim 12000'. 6/10/- Among shrubs, stony hillside, irrigation canal.

SUMMARY:
List of plants noted and photographed in mid–late June, including Primula, Meconopsis, Diapensia, Sorbus, Cypripedium, with brief habitat notes (near pass, lake at pass, on cliff). Entries detail frames on Dufaycolor 15–16 and Kodachrome 16, with shipments of Dufaycolor 13–15 and Kodachrome 14–16 sent on 30/06/1949.

CONTENT:
79

B.W. 8.
1 Primula caveana. 18/6
2 " macrophylla & macrocarpa 18/6
3 Meconopsis simplicifolia & snows near pass 20/6
4 " " sp. strumosa. 20/6
5 " " & lake at pass. 20/6
6 Primula bellidifolia 21/6
7 Diapensia himalaicum. 22/6
8 Primula sapphirina 23/6
9 Primula caveana. 25/6
10 Primula pusilla ?? close 25/6
11 Sorbus 19235 26/6
12 Primula bellidifolia 27/6

Dufaycolor 15
1 Diapensia himalaicum 22/6
2 Meconopsis horridula "
3 Primula sapphirina 23/6
4 Primula caveana 25/6
5 } Sorbus urania? 19235.
6 }

D. 13, 14, 15 sent 30.6.49

Dufaycolor 16
1 Primula bellidifolia 27/6
2 Cypripedium tibeticum "
3 Primula umbratilis "
(Sent in batch 15)
4
5
6

Kodachrome 16.
Diapensia himalaicum. 22/6
(some blanks, stuck film)
Meconopsis horridula 22/6
Primula caveana 2 shots 25/6
Meconopsis simplicifolia & Rhododendron anthopogon 25/6
Primula umbratilis on cliff. 27/6

Kodachrome 14, 15, 16 sent 30.6.49

SUMMARY:
The diarist reports climbing and observing several Meconopsis species (including No. 708) and rose finches, with fine early weather turning to mist from the Mayo Chu and rain later. On 2nd August at Camp at Chigupnaga (~14,000'), they note confusion among locals about the route beyond Chera, discovering a well-used yak road despite claims to the contrary.

CONTENT:
seem to know about it. There are some yaks here, but the herdsmen are further up north. I spent from 12 to 3:30 climbing all over the place, saw a fair number of flowers, but there is nothing new here. Meconopsis horridula is high up, the white Meconopsis also in places near M. horridula, & the little blue Meconopsis taken first near the Tulung La is very much in evidence on all the cliffs round about. That is No. 708. It is a beauty, & should do well at home in rockeries. There are a number of rose finches here in the scrub jungle, others besides Thura thura, but I have not shot any yet. Between 4 or 5 am the morning was as perfect as we have yet had, but then a huge mass of mist rolled up the Mayo Chu, & spread everywhere. It kept fine till 11:30, & since then has rained most of the day.

2nd August. CAMP at CHIGUPNAGA. 6 miles. 14000' (approx). I cannot understand what these people are trying to do. They all but one said yesterday that they had never been here before & that there was no road beyond Chera. That there was a road I soon found out, & it is one well used by yaks. Yesterday evening I was asking the man we have appointed to stay

SUMMARY:
Botanical and route notes describe a smaller valley near Tsona with Primulas, and a fine day. On 21st May the party camps 2 miles below Podzo Sumdo at about 10,500 ft, traveling along the Chidichar river and the Tsari through forest and gorge, passing Podzo Sumdo and the valley from the Bimbi La, with observations of Meconopsis, Berberis, and rhododendrons.

CONTENT:

• "not so big as at Tsona, but lovely for all that. The valley I was in is small but should be very good, already holds Primulas atrodentata, roylei, 1621 & 1614, the last two new to us. A perfect day, with hardly a cloud in the sky all day."
• "21st May. Camp 2 m below Podzo Sumdo. BP. Temp. Time Ht. 10500'. A fine day again, clouding in the evening. Path down R bank crossing the Chidichar river over its lateral moraine, steeply down to a bridge over to the L bank of the Tsari. Thence through forest in a steep sided valley. At about m 5 the descent is rapid where the Tsari falls in a gorge. Pass at m 6 Podzo Sumdo, one house, at the entrance from the north of the broad valley from the Bimbi La. Continue down L bank for 2 miles where valley opens out a little. Some grazing. No houses. We are a good deal lower here, & the vegetation is much more advanced. I did not find much though. Another Meconopsis 1637, in few numbers, near Podzo, Berberis all the way - a fine big flowered one, though the flowers are not too numerous, 1626, some rhododendrons, the best of"

Wait, I missed the marginal notes in the final text. I'll include them as they appear

SUMMARY:
Heavy snow and wind hinder activities; seeds of Primula, Rhododendron, and Gentiana are collected while searches for kuling yield no birds, though Tsongpen shoots one Crossoptilon. The next day, despite ongoing snow, the diarist, Tsongpen, and two Trim men reach the Kashong La in deep snow and strong wind, arriving at 8:30.

CONTENT:
Meconopsis and Primula which are wanted from there. No sign here of kuling or any other game birds. I have seen a great number of wall creepers, which are probably on migration south.

13th October. Snowed and blew half a gale last night up till about 10pm, when it only snowed. Snowed in camp most of the day, but clear towards the Kashong La. I spent most of the morning trying to pick out seeds of Tendula Primula, 2359 (2735), and I suppose I must have collected about 150 seeds. In the afternoon went down the valley looking for kuling and came across their marks very recently made, but no kuling. Tsongpen shot one Crossoptilon. Got some seed of one Rhododendron which appear ripe, some more of Gentiana ornata.

14th October. Halt. More heavy snow again last night, in camp rain and snow all today. As it looked rather more promising, I took up two Trim men, and with Tsongpen went to the Kashong La. It took us, without a halt at all, just under 2 hours. The snow at the top is now about three feet deep, and going along the last rock ridge, with a very narrow ledge covered in deep snow was not too pleasant. Bright sun this side: clouds and snow the other, and a perfectly beastly wind coming over the pass. We reached there at 8.30. Tsongpen went on with one man down the

SUMMARY:
At Chichechar, the party searched in the evening for new game birds; Ludlow heard them and later saw one, while Pintso also saw one, yielding two skins for identification. Danong returned from Thijijitum with flowering magnolia, a rhododendron, and Meconopsis but no primula. The group then split, with Ludlow and Sherriff joining M. over the Bimbi La while the writer proceeded to do the Kingkor.

CONTENT:
Chichechar 12th June
Pr. prenanthoides 2126. P. alpina violacea 2128, Pedicularis corydaloides 2127, Lonicera cyanocarpa var. porphyrantha 2129. 89

to be new. Although there was a lot to do, we just had to go out in the evening, because Ludlow had been among the new game birds. He had not seen any, but heard them, as did Pintso, who saw one. So we all went up to the waterfall, and just before coming home at 6 p.m., Ludlow saw another one. Now we have two skins, enough to name it by. This one was found in quite thick Abies rhododendron forest. Danong returned from Thijijitum, with some quite good stuff, the magnolia in bloom, another rhododendron, Meconopsis, but no primula, which I had specially hoped for.

L. & S. Separate - S. to Chichechar - L. to Kyimdong Dzong.
Sieru
Bimbi La
P. bellidifolia 1801
P. bryophila var. jerdoniana 1895
Pedicularis oederi 1802

12th June. Chichechar. 12500', 8 miles. We parted today, Ludlow and Sherriff joining M. over the Bimbi La, while I came on to do the Kingkor,