Showing 20 results

SUMMARY:
Travel from high pass to Tron with yak transport only; steep shale ascents/descents over Drosung La (~16,000 ft), rain turning dry after descending. Collected seeds of Pedicularis atrodentata and noted Pedicularis bella (2306) and an unidentified Meconopsis (2309); camped near irrigation canal with flat-roofed houses observed.

CONTENT:
of P. bellidifolia. We saw one piece of Pedicularis bella 2306,
otherwise nothing of any interest. But the hillside looks
promising, perhaps a little later will be better. Fine all
morning, the afternoon drizzly. Clouded all day. We collected
again a lot of seed of P. atrodentata. We have yak
transport only. It would be rather too much for ponies. Left
at 06.15, in at 12.30.

7th July. TRON, N. side of river. 7 miles. Path continues
to ascend, is very steep most of the way to the Drosung La,
about 16000' at m 3. Mostly over shale scree. Descent on
South side very steep over shale for a mile, then easier
along a ridge for 2 miles. The final mile down to Tron
is again very steep indeed. C.G. good, water from irrigation
canal. Rain all day till we got two miles down this
side of the pass, when we were again in the dry zone.
All houses here have flat roofs. On the ascent, came
across a nice Meconopsis 2309 which I do not know,
cannot make out from Taylor's book. The flowers are a
pretty pinkish wine red, one on a scape, I don't think
more than 2 to a plant. Leaves basal & cauline, all very

SUMMARY:
Ascent to Takar La in heavy rain followed by a descent into a dry zone with lingering snow and old avalanches made travel difficult for ponies. The writer notes abundant primulas on the east side, observes and releases a Lerwa chick, and records P. bellidifolia, K.W.'s new sikkimensis, and P. tibetica near camp.

CONTENT:
Sherriff
Takar La 28. Potentilla glabra var. rhodocalyx 2231, Gentianella 2233, Androsace zayuanensis 2234, Anemone strigillosa v. canescens 2235, Anemone demissa var. grandiflora 2236, Corydalis 2237, 2238, Pedic. oldenii 2239.
Sherriff

28th June. Camp Zimsakhi 14000' 8 miles. Rained hard all morning as we climbed to the Takar La (16700') at about 11.5. The rain continued to half way down here, then we were in the dry zone, & could see there had been no rain down here. Both sides of the pass have much snow, old avalanches which will stay all year I suppose. There were masses of primulas on the E side, far more than on this side. All kinds of sikkimensis, yellow & white (2211 & 2212), the red one (odontica) 2158 in masses & the little white (vernicosa) 1615. But nothing new could we see. At about 15500 saw four Lerwa with young. Caught one chick & released it. Snow made it difficult for the ponies on the way down, often had a job, unloading, walking over their saddle cloths & then on again. All bare shale slopes both sides near the top. On this side the descent is steep most of the way every step down the last bit to camp. P. bellidifolia is pretty common on the open hillside & among scrub. K.W.'s new sikkimensis is not common. It is a queer flower, the claws folded right back on the tube & calyx - not altogether pretty, but with a most beautiful scent. P. tibetica is still in bloom & growing.

SUMMARY:
Notes from Shagam La (next to Tame La) describe heavy snow and a difficult descent, with several primulas and gentians collected (nos. 2184–2189), including Meconopsis var. lutea noted as from Mipa rather than the Tawang district. Mentions a previous sighting of Pyrrhocorax at 16,000 ft and that a 'big bug' from Lhasa is expected tomorrow.

CONTENT:
Shagam La - (next to Tame La). P. hyacinthina 2185, Glabra 2186, Gent. phyllocalyx 2187
Meconopsis var. lutea - of no. 2188

The latter is reported as being found in Mipak, of the Tawang dist. This is Mipa, but hardly the Tawang dist., the height is 15800 and not 13800'. But I have my hopes about it. There was also a gentian seen there 2187, but very little. On this side of the pass too, there is much snow, mostly avalanched snow. We all came down various ways, on our feet sliding, or on our bottoms. The latter method was better and had about a 100' non stop run. It was difficult for the coolies. Snow for about a mile, then steep shale slopes with sharp rocks. On the R, South face, among some cliffs, were lots of P. bellidifolia, showing I think we are in a slightly drier valley, a P. sapphirina 2184.

Also there were masses of P. rotundifolia, or what I take to be that. Where I last saw that & bellidifolia together was in the Rong Chu, with them went P. eburnea, but that we did not see today. I hear a big bug from Lhasa is on my heels and will be here tomorrow. Saw no birds of any interest today, but yesterday forgot to record Pyrrhocorax - 16000'. A fine primula found today, which I suppose will go down as sikkimensis, is No. 2189. It has...

SUMMARY:
Seed collections are listed with specimen numbers and brief locality notes around camp, river, lake, and cliffs, including several Primula species, anemones, Rheum, and Androsace. Notes record seed sent to Taylor and to G.T.

CONTENT:
Seed from Waitang

Nomocharis nana 19121 1 ½ blue 300' N of camp.
P. calderiana x strumosa 19000 ABC roots. 1 white in bottom ½ m N of camp. Dark eye.
1 " " " among shrubs. light eye.
2 ½ blue below camp near big rock.
P. caveana white 19175 X 8 plants marked up at head of valley, river in from E.
P. bellidifolia 19181
P. muscarioides 19183
Conifer 19198 across river
Blue anemone 19201 ½ m above camp where path used to go up. Keep below near where they join again.
Yellow " 19202
P. strumosa 19204
Rheum spiciforme 19205 200' S of lake.
Small purple pea 18992
Big anemone by lake 19207
P. tenuifolia 19212
Cochlearia white 19215 some as in 37. Cliff on L. bank near bridge. (not ripe)
Androsace globifera cushion 19217 (not ripe)
" " 2" - 3" 19220 cliff L. bank near bridge.
P. capitata 19227
Anemone narcissiflora 19232
Primula elongata
Sorbus ursina 19235
P. macrophylla v. macrocarpa near where pony tied up Dumpra. up past R moraine to overhanging cliff with big rock beside it.

Seed sent to Taylor on 30/6
18907 Surus?
18924 Rosa mac?
19058 (2) Berberis (Kautam)
19092 Allium white.
18943 Myricaria.
20123 Prunus Rudolpha
Sent to G.T. on 10/7.
Prim. atrodentata 19

SUMMARY:
The writer reports heavy rain and a reconnaissance up the valley toward Waitang, finding the route likely passable despite earlier warnings that yaks could not traverse it. They plan to leave via Pangstang and criticize Ngudup for not negotiating effectively with locals. Botanical collections include Primula pusilla, P. bellidifolia, P. reticulata, Mec. paniculata, and observations comparing P. alpicola var. luna and P. reticulata.

CONTENT:
thorn scrub, it was very difficult indeed to move, or to get a clear shot at the bird. I hope something may come out. We have decided to leave here on 12th, and to go via Pangstang. I am sure if Ngudup had guts now, he could fix up the other route.

11th June Halt. I decided to go as far as I could up the valley where we had been told we could not go - yaks would be unable to take us to Waitang this way. It has always seemed odd to me that we could not go, when one man came back and said it was alright. But Ngudup is a poor fish with these people, and never asks enough questions, and never tries to persuade them. Anyway we went as far as I was able to walk - probably 3 miles from Garmotangha, there was no difficulty at all the whole way. Where we stopped we might have had to carry loads about 50 yds. We had quite a good day - got P. pusilla, P. bellidifolia and P. reticulata, the latter uncommon, but plentiful and beautiful where found. We also got Mec. paniculata in flower. The local form of P. alpicola var. luna is very like P. reticulata. In fact I was leaving reticulata today after having started to take it, when I noticed the absence of the very large bracts, which should have been obvious. Then later I saw that reticulata has no farina ring in the eye like alpicola. P. pusilla and P. bellidifolia are only just in flower. A very wet day indeed - the wettest by far that we've had so far, a sign of the monsoon at last surely. I got soaked through bottom half, but don't mind that, and remember now that I always used to. Without waterproof trousers, one must get soaked, and they are difficult to walk in. Started to rain about 8.0 and has not stopped by 5.0 pm.

SUMMARY:
Notes confirm several Primula identifications from Dungshinggang and describe the scented P. obtusifolia under boulders. At about 15,500 feet the diarist found and photographed a grandala nest with nearly fledged young and a fragment of eggshell. A halt day is noted with intermittent fine weather and heavy rain before heading up a valley.

CONTENT:
unforgivable. P. menziesiana is the primula we got on the Dungshinggang 3301. I don't think there can be any doubt of that now. 3374 - 3384 are P. umbratilis, I have already taken P. bellidifolia, or a subspecies on Dungshinggang, 3288. P. obtusifolia is a most beautiful flower, with a strong scent, and looks particularly nice under the huge boulders where it grows, where the pale colour of the flower is thrown up by the black background.

At about 15,500' today I heard grandala, and when the mist cleared, saw a pair, each with a mouthful of food. They were a little worried obviously waiting for us to go. Eventually the male flew into the rocks, and gave the site of the nest away. It was built on a very small ledge on a rock face. This time I could with difficulty get to 3 ft away and saw the nest clearly, with two nearly fully fledged young. I took a few photos, then waited in between two huge boulders for the female to come, which she did, and I got a photo of her feeding the chicks. Away below, lying on some snow, I found about half an egg shell, enough to give a rough idea of what the egg is like.

10th July. Halt. Rained all night: fine part of the morning and one hour's sun this afternoon, then very heavy rain. We went up a valley to

SUMMARY:
The page lists numerous Primula taxa with specimen numbers and brief notes on abundance and flowering, many recorded as common at Kantanang on 10/6. It mentions elevation comparison within the same valley, white forms of P. glabra, a hybrid (P. sikkimensis × hopeana), and comments on varieties such as caveana var. alba and macrophylla var. macrocarpa.

CONTENT:
(2) 134

19001. P. strumosa? 17.
       19009 P. macrophylla 18 } Both appear very late. Common Kantanang 10/6
       19011 P. glabra 19 } Common Kantanang 10/6
19002. P. barnardoana Won't collect any more of this. Leaves may be
       19025 P. sapphirina 20. Also Kantanang
       19030 P. hopeana 21.
       19041 P. alpicola 22 Common all over this area. The bracts
       19096 P. yarongensis. 23. } Taken in same valley, the first 500' lower
       19098 P. involucrata 24. } to test the cytology of these before they are
       19099 P. glabra. Includes a few pure white ones, which
       19103 P. alpicola var. luna Never has more than one whorl of flowers
       19104 P. pusilla. 25 A late flowerer. Just the first in flower
       19105 P. bellidifolia 26 Much the same as pusilla. Just appearing
       19108 P. reticulata 27 I take this to be reticulata. It is most easily distinguished
       19128 P. umbratilis 28
       19138 P. sikkimensis x hopeana
       19144 P. caveana 29
       19147 P. sapphirina
       19149 P. pusilla
       19163 P. capitata. 30 Only one seen today.
       19167 P. tenuiloba 31 Very common.
       19172 P. walshii 32 Very few seen, & they appear mostly over.
       19175 P. caveana var. alba Seems to be merely a var. of caveana. The
       19177 P. caveana
       50) 19181 P. bellidifolia.
       19189 P. macrophylla var. macrocarpa 33. Mostly over already. The more I see of this plant, the
       19183 P. umbratilis

SUMMARY:
Checklist of Primula species collected in 1937, with notes on prior collection status and several specimen numbers. Localities mentioned include Chendebi and Tang Chu.

CONTENT:
x not collected in 1936
xx " " " before.
Primulas collected. 1937.

42. P. bracteosa.

1 P. Boothii.
P. erythrocarpa
P. flagellaris
P. sp. nov. Chendebi xx
5 P. strumosa elongata
P. Roylei.
P. macrophylla.
P. glabra.
P. geraniifolia xx
10 P. sp. nov. Tang Chu. xx
P. Hopeana
P. sapphirina x
P. tenella. xx
P. Winteri.
15 P. Boothii high alt. var.
P. pusilla. x
P. Stirtoniana x
P. obliqua. x
P. prenantha? xx
20 P. nivalis dwarf sp.
P. tenuiloba.
P. sikkimensis.
P. Menziesiana xx
P. bellidifolia xx
25 P. atrodentata
P. Griffithii sp. hancini
P. vernicosa.
P. pudibunda 3370
P. sikkimensis var. 3353. xx
30 P. sp. nov. 3366 hancini xx
P. " " 3367 xx
P. " " 3383. xx
P. umbratilis white 3384 xx
P. " blue 3394 xx
35 P. capitata.
P. soldanelloides. x
P. muscoides.
P. obtusifolia Caveana xx
P. Walshii 3413 concinna xx
40 P. Caveana 3410 xx
P. uniflora 3438. x
P. involucrata 3226. x

SUMMARY:
Page lists Primula specimens with notes on morphology, flower colors, abundance, and growth habits, including forms such as P. caveana, P. muscoides, P. glabra, and P. waddellii. Mentions comparison with earlier collections at Waitang and a reference to a specimen from 1938.

CONTENT:
(3) 136 33.

53. 19185 P. atrodentata Same as 3636 in 1938.
    19186 P. walshii Scape up to 1" long bearing 1, 2 or 3 flowers. No farina.
54. 19190 P. bellidifolia.
    19195 P. sikkimensis. A fine form with big flowers, yellow or almost white.
    19203 P. muscoides. 34.
    19204 P. strumosa. See my 19000 A B or C taken at Waitang where a glorious mixture of colours
    19211 P. caveana v. alba
55. 19212 P. tenuiloba
    19213 P. concinna 35. I think this is correct because of the fairly copious yellow
    19216 P. macrophylla v. macrocarpa
    19226 P. caveana v. alba. A good collection of 5 sheets, but they are odd plants
    19227 P. capitata.
56. 19231 P. muscoides. Mixed blue and white, which grow actually touching each
    19244 P. macrophylla v. macrocarpa
    19245 P. glabra
    19251 P. umbratilis. Not fully grown.
    19255 P. caveana - full grown.
57. 19318 P. atrodentata. With new plants growing out from old flower head.
    19325 P. glabra.
    19330 P. waddellii 36. The colour of this is so distinct, that it cannot be confused with P.
    19332 P. umbratilis. I have never seen so much as on this cliff. All of it is very pale indeed, or some
    19346 P. soldanelloides 37 I never noticed before the quite different texture of the corolla. Ask for
58. 19364 P. muscoides. White form. Here v. common.
    19373 P. waddellii. Very common indeed here, in quite big clumps, not singly, as
    19378 P. jonardunii. 38 Common here, on open steep grass hillsides, not so much
    19383 P. caveana. Much scarcer here than round about Waitang.
59. 19392 P. concinna v. alba. 80% of P. concinna here are white, remainder pink purple, no

SUMMARY:
Notes report court intrigue involving the Maharani Padmadechen, causing anxiety for the Dzongpen; Yusun Kazi confides concerns and asks the author to speak to Tongsa. The page also records routes and plant collections made on 20–22 November between Yonpu La, Khoma nagi, and Chungkar.

CONTENT:
two months ago. He got hold of the Maharani (Padmadechen)
somehow and told her all sorts of lies about the Dzongpen and others.
She seems to have sent secretly to Trashigang and told all the
Dzongpen's servants to come to Bumthang - without a word to
the Dzongpen himself. I am told the Maharaja does not
believe all the stories, but the Dzongpen is obviously frightened
that he may be persuaded to. Yusun Kazi told me all this
secretly and asked me to speak to Tongsa about it. Yusun too is
not happy about his post: although promoted to (Betung?)
he finds there is a lot of intrigue there, again caused by the
Maharani, and he feels his position insecure. However he says
he does not mind that, but is worried about the Dzongpen.

20th Nov. Yonpu La 7000? 10 miles. Fine, hot below, but cold
on the pass, which was in the clouds. Collected bulbs of Lil.
Anemone gigantea. from Chuka, Rong Chu: seeds of P. eburnea 2899, P. bellidifolia 2901.
P. lillidale 2902. Meconopsis bella 2905

21st Nov. Khoma nagi. 4000? 13 miles. Fine but not too hot.
Coelogyne porrecta 2892. Eria coronaria 2893. Wightia speciosissima 2894.
Got two orchids and a fine tree in bloom; also bulbs of Lil.
Wallichii on the way down from the pass. Saw no birds, but
a few butterflies.

22nd November. Chungkar 6500? 10m. Fine. Every day is much the