Showing 22 results

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:
The diarist manages specimens and arranges penicillin injections for Danang in hospital, while noting a letter from Ludlow via Yundu confirming successful plant finds. Plans are made for travel to meet Ludlow at Pasu Sefu and for Pasang and Mundrup to collect primulas via Tumle La, Tongsa, Chendesi, and Ritang, with mention of a hoped-for bridge over the Tang Chu.

CONTENT:
I've a lot to do, with photos and dry flowers. Danang is here in hospital. He seems better, but I have not yet seen him. I hope he will come tomorrow, as I have asked the doctor to come too, and will start 4 hourly injections. I have only 10 doses I can give him, and hope that will do the trick. Ludlow sent a letter with Yundu, and a small press of flowers. He has found every one of the wanted plants - P. umbratilis alba, P. tsariensis, P. tsariensis alba, P. uniflora, Lychnis Wardii, P. strumosa and fine forms of Meconopsis horridula. Yundu has marked all the plants too, and I hope will be able to get them all in October. If so, that little trip will have been very worth while.

2nd September. Haat. Mostly fine in the valley, with a heavy shower or two. I got Danang along here this morning. There is no doubt he is better than he was. But I am sure that penicillin must be the thing to give him, as I have 10 injections, we have started at 12 today. He must take a chance after this, as I must go off on 5th. He and Sompoli must go off on 10th at latest to catch Ludlow at Pasu Sefu. If he can't go by then, he must join me or go back to Kalimpong by himself. The valley here is very pretty now, with the beautiful pink fields of buckwheat scattered over the valley bottom, and in places along the sides too. I don't remember noticing this so much before. HH seems to think that he will have some kind of bridge made over the Tang Chu before very long - in a month he suggests. I do hope so, as it will save us a long chukker again. I have tried to work out how long it will take Pasang and Mundrup to get the two primulas on the Tumle La, then to Tongsa and then to collect all plants from Ludlow's area. I think it will take 6 days from Chendesi to Ritang or back to Chendesi, and altogether from here 11 days, which will take 4 to Chendesi or 5 to Ritang. So if we start on 15th we will reach Ritang on 19th, and Pasang must start on 9th to reach Ritang or Chendesi on the 19th.

SUMMARY:
Notes abundant Primula species on hillsides and highlights several Pedicularis specimens from a nala above camp. Observes eremophila with young and shoots two snowcock, then walks to the Le La and into another valley, noting Gentiana amoena forma pallida on shale scree near the pass, not yet in flower.

CONTENT:
144

P. consocia 2284. Mec. horridula (white bella) 2286. Sax. sessiliflora 2288.
P. hyacinthina 2294

Primulas indeed all over the hillsides, but no others bar P. tsariensis, pygmaeorum, roylei & macrophylla, with a few late flowering atrodentata & masses of sikkimensis.

The nicest flower we saw was a Pedicularis 2293 (Pedic. bella v. holophylla 2293), from the nala just 1 m above camp. Another Pedicularis 2290 (Pedic. megalocheila 2290) is also very pretty (Pedic. zephanantha 2295). Saw masses of eremophila with their young about 400' above camp. They appear to have either 2 or 3 chicks. Shot two snowcock pretty high up. There were many young birds with them, able to fly.

5th July. Halt. Le La. Fine most of the morning & part of the afternoon. Went up to the Le La direct, then turned left into another valley, so circled home. On the pass there is now no snow either side. Gentiana amoena forma pallida is fairly common just near the top in pure shale scree. I also saw it further to the left on a ridge further south. It is not yet out, but I could see the flowers that they were

SUMMARY:
The party descends north from Milakatong La, follows a lake and river, and reaches Tsukang (Shao) around mile 16, noting scant barley and rhododendron fuel. They express relief at leaving rain-soaked Tawang, criticize incompetent local officials, and describe a route transitioning from dense jungle to bamboo, rhododendron, and finally grass with dwarf rhododendron, alongside a list of collected plants.

CONTENT:
July 14.
Milakatong La

P. sikkimensis 652=667
" obliqua 655
" Calderiana (Roylei) 658
" macrophylla 657
" sikkimensis 662
" alpicola 663
" pusilla 665
" sapphirina 666
Meconopsis villosa 649
Notholirion macrophyllum 650
Corydalis trifoliata 651
Swertia hookeri 654
Meconopsis horridula 659
Rhododendron hypenanthum 660
Campanula aristata 664

North of the pass, the descent is easy over open rocky hillside. A lake is seen to the N. West and the river met at m 14. From this lake followed down to the East to TSUKANG or SHAO at m 16. Here there is rhododendron wood fuel. A very little barley is grown, but probably does not ripen. Shao consists of about a dozen stone built houses. We were thoroughly glad to be shut of that miserable place Tawang. It rained all the time we were there, and we were for nearly the whole time in the mist.

The acting body for the Jongpen were an acute sodden womanising lot of poops. When our coolies were once off the mark, they went well enough: the trouble was simply that the officials were incapable of giving an order. Half the coolies started yesterday, the others with our bedding etc came on today. It rained from start to finish, and was miserably cold the whole time. The ground we covered was most interesting from a flower point of view. First we were in pretty dense jungle: this gave way to bamboo jungle, then to rhododendron jungle, till finally nothing was left but grass and dwarf rhododendron with the typical Tibetan dry zone potentilla. It was not a dry zone for us though. The hills are covered with a very dwarf pink rhododendron which makes them look like moors in

Rhododendron hypenanthum 661

SUMMARY:
Notes the junction of the Yombu Chu and Mena Chu, with a ruined customs house called Karmi under a cliff and good camping nearby. Describes clear views and snow peaks around the Cho La, map doubts, and Meconopsis observed, then records the stage to Shingbe with elevation and temperature.

CONTENT:
71

At mile 8, where the Yombu Chu comes in from the west, it joins the Mena Chu. About 300' above the junction is a ruined tower and wall under an overhanging cliff on the left bank of the Yombu Chu. This was an old customs house, and is known as Karmi. Camp can be pitched ½ mile up the Yombu Chu on the left bank. Water, fuel and grazing all good.

A lovely day, or rather a tantalising one. It was clear on the Cho La and we had glimpses of a series of snow peaks all round from the South to the West, but never saw the top of the finest, which lies west of the Cho La. The Mena Chu valley is magnificent, thickly wooded on the East side and grassy to the west. Looking back to the Cho La was a grand sight, with the saw-edge ridge with the pass against the sky. I took many bearings from the Cho La, which often merely confused us more and more. The map must be miles out, and I think someone's longitude must be wrong somewhere. On the pass were the Meconopsis horridula, and a few other interesting flowers collected before, but little new of interest. At Karmi were Meconopsis grandis in seed.

22nd August. SHINGBE. 12 miles. Ht. 12756' (BP. 189.3°).
Temp 48°. Path leads up left bank of Yombu.

SUMMARY:
Notes from Kucha La and nearby valleys describe poor flowering despite promising terrain, with common Primula (including Dryadifolia/tsangensis and nivalid forms) and several Meconopsis. Weather shifts from clear to mist, rain, and thunder lead to a move back to Kulu Lungma; wildlife seen or reported include lerwa with young, Heteroxenicus stellatus, bear tracks and cubs, deer, and possible wild cattle. A hypsometer reading near the Go nyi re ridge suggests an elevation around 15,800 ft.

CONTENT:
Kucha La

over a good bit of the hill to the E of the Pass saw nothing new. The nivalid primula is fairly common but over. The Dryadifolia one is also here & P. jonardunii (Dryadifolia). Little else. We move by N of the range tomorrow. I see clouds again rushing up from the S west over the hills, that the good spell must be about over now. It has been lovely weather.

Kucha La
25th July. Halt. Fairly clear for an hour or two in the morning, then mist over everything. We were back by 3.0pm, it cleared up after rain & thunder by 4.0pm. Although the country looks perfectly wonderful for flowers, it is very poor indeed, there is no point in stopping longer, so we go back to Kulu Lungma tomorrow & try there. Prim. Dryadifolia (P. tsangensis) of the Tsanangha 5865 (= 5931) & also the nivalid primula 5872 (P. calliantha), no longer in flower, are both common; P. chamaethauma also (no flower) but no P. valentiniana or others expected here. P. jonardunii (Dryadifolia) is also common. Mec. betonicifolia at camp abounds, & a rather poor coloured M. simplicifolia, M. horridula & M. sinuata (speciosa) (5940). I saw many lerwa today, with young just able to fly. Also Heteroxenicus stellatus near the Tsanangha, also with young, about the top limit of abies zone.

Kulu Phu Chu
26th July. Kulu Lungma. 6 1/2 miles. Rain at night, mostly fine today, with bright intervals. Went up the Kucha La first thing to take the height. We looked about there a little, but there is nothing but a little P. valentiniana & some P. nivalis sect. in seed. So we came on here, will work this area for a couple of days as perhaps there is good. We saw fresh tracks of bear this morning, the coolies saw two young bear the day we arrived. Much deer also pretty common. The coolies also said they saw some kind of wild cattle near the Kucha La - not yaks of course. I don't know what they would be.

27th July. Halt. Fine all day, but clouded, with bright intervals. We went off at 5.45 & came back at 4.0pm, up the ridge to the North of the valley. It is a continuation of the Go nyi re ridge, so we thought it might be good. And it is not bad. I took a hypsometer reading about 400 ft from the extreme top of the ridge, BP 186.2 T. 57. at 2.0pm., giving an approx ht of 14800, which puts the ridge at 15800', so we climbed about 4500' today. We are too late for the primulas of the semi dry (dry winter wet summer) zone. The little dwarf nivalid (P. amabilis?), 5889, primula is common, we found one solitary flower, from which I would certainly say it is nivalid. We also found a little more of

SUMMARY:
Notes record plant collections around Chiniung La and Langong, including Primula and Pedicularis species with specimen numbers. The 4-mile route from Langong to Chiniung La over the Main Range is described, with fir forest, deep snow drifts near the pass, Lopas crossing the pass with past fatalities, and a large lake south of the pass still half iced.

CONTENT:
Chiniung La 20 June

5606. Primula rotundifolia. Pretty common round about Langong in typical habitat. Chiniung La

5607. Primula macrophylla. Same as 3895. Grows much bigger here than in Bhutan, or than I have ever seen before. Chiniung La

5608. Primula hopeana. This is the true P. hopeana, which I have not got before this, although I thought I had once. It grows close to, or among Pedicularis No 3932, but is quite distinct from that No. Chiniung La

X. Langong to CHINIUNG LA. 4 miles. The bearing from the Pass, which is over the Main Range, to Langong, is 325°M. Leave Langong across the Langong Chu by the bridge & follow up the R. bank of the valley 1/2 m to the E of the bridge, through fir forest at first. Path easy the whole way, fairly steep near the Pass, where there are still a lot of deep snow drifts. (BP. 185.0. T. 51. 9.0am. 20/6/38.) Descent on S side steep at first, approx South. Lopas come over this pass about this time, the first two having arrived last week. It seems to be a dangerous pass as 5 Lopas died on it last autumn. About 500' below the pass on the South there is a large lake, still half covered with ice.

Chiniung La 20 June

Pedicularis megalochila f. rhodantha 5607. Pedicularis mycophylla var. megalophylla 5613, type. Pedicularis takpoensis 5614.
Pedicularis bella var. holophylla 5615. Pedicularis siphonantha 5616.
Meconopsis horridula 5612.

SUMMARY:
Route description from Langong to Molo via the Tse La, following the Langong Chu through forests and meadows with a steep ascent to a camp at Yamto; transport suitable for yaks. Entries dated June 22 and a barometric/temperature reading at 3:30 pm on 21 June 1938 accompany plant collections, including Primula hyacinthina with notes on farina.

CONTENT:
Tseda June 22. Corydalis 5626, 5627, Saxifraga 5617, melanocentra 5625, Geranium 5621, 5634,
41a Meconopsis horridula 5636 Pedicularis elwesii 5633

From LANGONG to MOLO via the TSE LA. Follow down the L bank of the Langong Chu to m 2, where a large valley comes in from 350° M. This is followed up through forest to m 4, where the valley opens out a little & a series of grassy wet meadows is met. At m 5, the main valley comes from the N. West, this is left, & a small, narrow & steep valley is followed up to the North. The ascent to m 6 is very steep through rhododendrons & the path difficult for any transport but yaks. At m 6 a small meadow is reached, this forms a suitable camping ground. Rhododendron fuel available. (BP. 186.4. T. 50° 3.30pm. 21.6.38). This camp is called YAMTO.

Tse La June 22

5635. Primula hyacinthina. Does not always have farina on back of the leaves. One specimen has none.

From camp the ascent is very steep over scree to the Tse La at a bearing of 35

SUMMARY:
The writer reports finding P. caveana and, with Tundup’s collections, totals 27 gatherings, then receives mail including two lots from Kalimpong and letters from Betty, who has found P. jigmediana again. They comment on Hicks’ limited results with the camera, news that Bhutan’s treaty matters seem settled, car delivery news from Chris, and concern over the Paro Penlop’s worsening condition as H.H. cannot visit. On 15th June they halt in camp, send mail to Betty, Kalimpong, and H.H., note heavy showers, and remark on large butter consumption.

CONTENT:
Primula farinosa 19149
Primula sapphirina 19147
Meconopsis horridula 19136
Cremanthodium decaisnei 19148
Cypripedium himalaicum 19131
Cypripedium elegans 19134
Orchis chusua 19129
19144

valley to the east and found P. caveana in full flower, and with a few things collected by Tundup, we are 27 gatherings in all. I was busy writing these up when the mail arrived, and a good mail too, with two lots from Kalimpong, and two letters of 23rd - 28th from Betty. She has done pretty well I think, and has found P. jigmediana for the second time only. They also have P. caveana I suppose most of what I have otherwise. She seemed more cheerful too, but Hicks is not a great success I fear. He wrote to me in a cheerful enough way, and realized he was not as good as he might be. I fear he hasn't done much with the camera, whether the camera's or his fault I don't know. There was no special news in the mail I think except that Bhutan now seems to have all points of their Treaty settled at last, not badly either, if India keeps the bargain. Chris tells me the car I ordered at home on "18 months delivery" in Nov. last, will be delivered in June - now. That is rather unfair to him I feel, but it's very nice to know I won't have to take our car home. Paro Penlop is apparently worse, and H.H. very sorry he cannot manage to go and see him which he feels he certainly ought to do. I suppose it is cancer without doubt now. As there was such a lot to do, I decided to send off a mail tomorrow and not go out after flowers.

15th June Halt. Stayed in camp and sent off a mail to Betty and to Kalimpong and to H.H. Fine with some heavy showers. Nothing to report. I find we have disposed of over a maund of butter in 3 weeks, and cannot think how that could possibly