Showing 7 results

SUMMARY:
The author clarifies the locality as Kangchukka in the Langte Chu (flowing to Langte), noting an earlier field note name of Tang Chu and adding Kangchukka on specimen 3249. Detailed observations compare Primula specimens (including P. tenella) from 3203, 3249, and Chundebi 3052, discussing size, leaf and scape differences, elevation (8000 ft for the latter), and their apparent merging.

CONTENT:
580

The name of this place is Kangchukka, really in the Langte Chu, flowing down to Langte. I have named it Tang Chu on field notes, but added Kangchukka on 3249, the primula.

No 3249. P. tenella. I have taken this to be P. tenuiloba when collected at the last camp 3203 flagellaris. If this one is the same, it is very much bigger, the leaves are not like those of a minutissima: nor is the flower which is as big as that of P. Roylei, sometimes bigger. No 3203, 3249 & the Chundebi 3052 flagellaris primula I called new, all seem to merge into one another, though the latter was collected at 8000 which seems to separate it from the others. And the size of leaf & scape too, seem to put this one away from 3203 flagellaris. It is a most beautiful primula.

SUMMARY:
Notes from Dungshinggang describe abundant Primula species, comparisons to a specimen from Bimbi La, and a sighting of Primula waddellii. The author records clear morning views of the Himalayas including Chomolhari and the Kangchenjunga group, with later heavy rain, and remarks on plentiful monal.

CONTENT:
58
Primulas

No. 3271, which reminds me very much of one we had on the Bimbi La, but which I think the Prof. put down as P. macrophylla. It was bigger there, but stands out in having the pale lemon yellow eye, as here. There were only a very few in flower, one will have to visit the spot again on our return.

P. shitoriana (3258) has taken the place of P. tenella, & grows in masses, in huge clumps & small clumps on rock faces, usually preferring any face but the south. P. macrophylla is also very common, & there are some fine ones to be seen. I believe I could shoot half a dozen monal a day up here, they are so plentiful.

Dungshinggang
18th June. Halt. Rained in the night. Fine & clear in the morning till just after 7.30. Fine till 1.0pm, then heavy rain. The Himalayas were clear this morning, though there must have been some storms to the north in Tibet. I could see Chomolhari easily, & at 280° Mag what must have been the Kangchenjunga group. Right round to the East was clear, past Kula Kangri, Sangto-pelri down to the Mago peaks, or dare say even beyond, though those we saw might have been anything. The only thing of interest we saw today was Prim. waddellii (3281). What I had taken as

SUMMARY:
Diary entries from Dungshinggang record rest days with fine mornings and heavy afternoon hail and rain, photo developing difficulties, and limited plant finds including Primula species. A message arrives from Phobshikha that Purbo had been ill for a day but is now much better.

CONTENT:
it before was P. tenella, rather dwarf, from 15,500'. These specimens are very much redder than any I have seen before. Monal again very common. We were in mist most of the time from 7.30 on, but rain started only as we reached camp at 1.30.

[Dungshinggang]
19th June. Halt. We were all beginning to feel a bit weary, so stayed in camp all day today. Another beautiful morning with wonderful views of the Himalayas. It kept fine till about 2.30 & since then has been hailing very hard, with some thunder. Spent the morning developing photos. The trouble is to dry them.

[Dungshinggang]
20th June. Halt. Fine in the morning, misty the rest of the day, but rain less than usual. We can find very little here now. The [P. bellidifolia 3288] only thing of interest was Prim. Menziesiana 3288, which I have [P. capitata 3289] been calling P. umbratilis. We have not found one in flower till today. I was terribly lazy all the time we were out, & feel as if I had fever coming on, though where from anyway I don't know: back at 1.0 pm. with no energy to do anything. A man came up from Phobshikha said Purbo was bad for one day, but is now much better. I hope he will not come up with the coolies.

[Dungshinggang]
21st June. Halt. Heavy rain in evening & last night, but this

SUMMARY:
The diarist halts for two days, then travels via Chendebi toward Bumthang, noting persistent rain and brief clear periods. They collect a little seed of P. Boothii and discuss an uncertain Primula (specimen 3052), comparing it with P. tenella and noting that seed is not yet ripe.

CONTENT:
be back just in time. I will now have two days halt here, do some photos, write a mail and then go off via Chendebi to the north for a few days before going on to Bumthang.

28th June. Halt. Rained all afternoon and a good deal last night. Fine this morning till 10:30, then heavy rain.

29th June Halt. Rained at night, and all afternoon and evening.

30th June. Chendebi. Rained up till 7:00, then fine till 2:30 pm and rain all evening. We found a few things on the way down here, got a little seed of P. Boothii, but nearly all has been thrown.

I had hoped to collect seed of 3052 the primula thought to be new, just near here. But I find it still in flower. A good deal is over, but much still remains. I cannot make this primula out. It appears to be very near P. tenella, but we were finding that up to 15,000 ft and this is only 8,000. Also P. tenella as seen by us at its best about 12,500 ft (top end of abies zone) had only one flower, whereas this has two in about 50% of cases. Seed of these flowers we saw on 14th May are not yet ripe. Beside it grows a great deal of Notholirion hy

SUMMARY:
Tsongpen Tenduk returned with notable primula collections, especially P. tsarongensis v. alba (3366) and P. sonchifolia (3367), regarded as the best finds so far, amid persistent heavy rain causing drying difficulties. A route note records travel to Omta Tso (4 miles) along the Rinchen Chu/Maru Chu at approximately 14,500 ft with poor weather conditions.

CONTENT:
MB section 5-11 - Tang Chu

yellow. Tsongpen Tenduk came back today with a good
haul of things, but no seeds. Far away the best, were two
P. tsarongensis v. alba 3366, P. sonchifolia 3367
primulas, or two forms of one primula, 3366 + 3367, both
magnificent flowers, though unfortunately Petiolarids. I measured
one of the specimens of 3367 at 1 3/4", full, across. 3366 was in
masses, by the hundred yards: 3367 in rather a small
patch, but closely packed. These are the best things collected
so far. (P. flagellaris 3368) A few P. tenella were brought, & they certainly seem
very near the Chanderi primula, but the scape is much shorter,
leaves smaller, & only one specimen was seen with two
flowers. I will be interested to hear the Professor's remarks on
the Chanderi primula. A most cheering evening to an
otherwise foul day of pouring rain + strong wind. Everything
is pretty sodden, & flowers take a horrible long time to dry. The
drying paper seems as wet as ever only an hour or two after
changing.

13700 ft To via Maru Chu (Rinchen Chu)
5th July, Omta Tso. 4 miles. BP. 187.6. Temp. 47° Time 5.0 pm. Ht. 14500 app.
Rained all night, very hard all day. Path keeps up R bank of
Rinchen Chu (known here as Maru Chu) to m 1 1/2, where there are two
huts, then crosses by a bridge to L bank, climbs up to an open
P.

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:
Travel from Gyantse to Dochen via Phari and Tuna with notes on weather, flowering plants, and limited seed collecting. Transport disputes with local headmen lead to a bribe; Pangdatshang intervenes, the party meets Dorje Tsering, exchanges currency, attempts wildfowl hunting, and receives letters of introduction from Tsarong.

CONTENT:
21st October. Gyantse. Very fine day after three days of heavy rain. We are not taking any specimens yet, but only a few seeds here & there. Today there were several fine clumps of Gentiana amoena in full bloom. Besides these there are many of a sp. of small blue Swertia, some Asters, Cyananthus lobatus, the usual odd blooms of Rhod. cinnabarinum which always appear in October. The Headmen of Yatung lived up to their reputation. They will not supply transport at the rates laid down. We have transport from Kalimpong to Gyantse, & yesterday the headmen tried to stop it going beyond Yatung. However Pangdatshang ordered them to let us go without hindrance.

22 October. Phari. Very cold in the morning, with thin clouds. Cleared up later and was lovely. Met by Dorje Tsering this time. Exchanged rupees at 3.35 sangs per rupee. The only seeds collected were P. bellidifolia. I could not find P. tenella under the snow.

23rd October. Tuna. A clear but very cold day indeed until we reached Shabra Shubra, about 12.15. As usual we could not get off to time, even though we had our own through transport. Last night the Phari headmen demanded a bribe. We could take our own transport if we liked, they said: if we did then they would of course not supply any other sahibs. Rs 20 bribe paid that night. Saw no gazelle or game of any kind.

24 October. Dochen. Fine still. Went after duck & geese in the afternoon. Have seen but we could get near nothing. Got a large letter from Tsarong enclosing several letters to people on our way. These should be very useful later on. All are in Tibetan, so we have not been able to see yet who they are addressed to.