Showing 12 results

SUMMARY:
Wet, misty morning with a clearer afternoon before rain while traveling between Yüto and Takar La at about 14,000 ft; the writer rode most of the way and spent four hours on the hillside. Numerous Primula were noted (including P. cawdoriana 2224 near Yüto, P. roylei, sikkimensis, and others), plus a single dwarf rhododendron (2225) and a gentian (2230); the path was easy after Kinghor but steep between Yume and Gompo Rong, and the river was barely fordable.

CONTENT:
of any particular interest. Rained all morning - more or less fine in afternoon. Mist down on hills all day.

27th June. Camp between Yüto & Takar La. About 14000'. 7 miles.

Wet & misty all morning. Fairly clear in afternoon till 4.0pm: then rain. I expected rather more than we got, but we saw a good many old friends: Ramzana's prim. is common in little patches. P. Cawdoriana 2224 is plentiful on a cliff below Yüto on the R hand side. Above here P. Roylei & the P. that is always with it, & the little white Petiolaris. Also 2137 the very small one, glabra & atrodentata. The big sikkimensis is everywhere & fine big flowers on it, also the candelabra red one (microdonta?).

An interesting rhododendron dwarf 2225 of which only one was seen, & another gentian 2230. I rode up almost all the way, very pleasant to do so again, & then had four hours on the hillside up here. The path up here is pleasantly easy after the Kinghor, but steep between Yume & Gompo Rong. There are prim. all the way up here. The river is barely fordable even here just now.

SUMMARY:
Stores were divided as Ludlow and Sherriff prepared to leave for Kyindong Dzong or Chutchar; Tendu was injured catching butterflies but remained cheerful. The party made a halt-day excursion to the Bimbi La with fine views but few new plants, and later the writer found a primula in bloom near camp, hoped to be P. cawdoriana. Departure was planned for the 12th amid variable weather.

CONTENT:
except to take some photos in the morning. The rest of the day spent in dividing stores once more, as Ludlow & Sherriff go off in three days to Kyindong Dzong or to Chutchar. Poor Tendu fell catching butterflies & cut his knee badly, having to have a stitch in it. He seems happy as usual though. We sent a man down today to call up the coolies, & plan to leave on the 12th.

9th June. Halt. A perfect day till 2.0 pm when there was heavy rain for a while, clearing up later. We all went to the Bimbi La & returned about 4.30 pm. Had fine views of snow hills but for little of interest in the flower line, the only new flower being a myosotis.

10th June. Halt. Another fine day, spent a good deal in looking pretty close to camp, where nothing much was seen.

11th June. Halt. Fine most of the day. Went up to the E. of camp, & at last found some specimens of a primula I have been watching for ages, in bloom. Only two seen fully out. The calyx is large, the leaves small, & one expects a very small flower. But it is really a beauty & the colour very pretty (2113). I hope it proves to be P. Cawdoriana.

SUMMARY:
At Kashong La Camp the party remains halted amid persistent snow, cold, and wind, while the diarist treats Tsongpen’s eye with tea leaves and Optrex. The Trün gyimpu arrives and predicts bad weather for about another month; a yellow primula (no. 2396) is collected while P. Cawdoriana is noted as not yet ripe. Conditions worsen on the 12th with continuous snow and rain.

CONTENT:
Colour in autumn, and should do well at home. I doubt if I will ever get over the Kashong La to the primulas I want. It does not seem as if it would stop snowing any night now. Tsongpen still has one eye almost closed tonight, but has had a sleep. I put tea leaves on for an hour, and have twice bathed them with Optrex.

Kashong La Camp
11th October. Halt. Hardly saw the sun all day. One inch of snow at camp again in the morning, more on the hillsides again. It is annoying to see blue sky and the sunshine only a mile down the valley from us. The Trün gyimpu arrived today: he says this will get worse till the end of the 9th month - about another month, then clear up. Tsongpen's eyes are much better, she was out with me for some hours today. We managed to get the yellow primula 2396, which I thought I had got yesterday, but found I was wrong. I now have a fine collection of it. P. Cawdoriana is still not ripe. Very cold in camp, rain or snow all day long and a tearing wind.

Kashong La Camp
12th October. Halt. Snowed all night, and snowed or rained all day without a break. Snow is now, 6.00pm, lying pretty thick in camp. It seems to get worse each day and there is no sign of a break.

SUMMARY:
Two halt days at Kashong La with short excursions up and down the valleys yielded several plant collections, including Cyananthus, Pedicularis, Gentiana, Lonicera, Primula, Delphinium, Saxifraga, and others. The diarist marked plants for seed, shot two wrens at 15,000 feet, and noted sightings of blood pheasant and musk deer; Primula Cawdoriana was abundant on nearby cliffs.

CONTENT:
130

Kashong La - Sherriff

18th July, Halt. A reasonably fine day, with a little sun now & then, and much rain here. Only went up the valley towards the pass, but came across one or two interesting things.

Cyananthus Sherriffii 2390
Ped. schizanthoides 2389
" Bella 2391
G. przewalskii 2386
taylorii 239

A Cyananthus (lobatus?) 2390, a small pure white Pedicularis 2389, & a gentian 2386, which I think is G. nubigena. There was very little in flower, but I have marked off some coming over for seed. Shot two wrens, at 15,000' among large boulders, farther down.

19th July, Halt. Kashong La - Sherriff. Fine for an hour or two in the morning & a little in the evening. Went down the valley to the west, then up the other side, over the top & round right handed.

Lonicera myrtillus 2393
Gentiana taylorii 2392
Gent. coerulea aglaia 2401
Pr. morsheadiana 2396
" muscoides 2399
Pedicularis macrosiphon 2407, Ped. elwesii var. major 2403,
Delphin. beesianum 2400
Cyananthus Sherriffii 2402
Sax. drapana 2398
P. Cawdoriana

A fairly good day. Found a primula like sikkimensis, but much smaller 2396. I doubt if it will be more than a variety, though it looks rather different. Further up a delphinium, the first we have seen - 2400 - one I have not collected before. Another rather smaller cyananthus 2402 & a few other pedicularis & odd things. Did not take a gun with me, saw blood pheasant, & three musk deer. Prim Cawdoriana is very common on the cliffs of the nala across the valley from camp, all in full bloom.

SUMMARY:
Notes describe packing issues near S. Chöling, hospitality from Ama Ayalmo, and a report that Tenduk collected seedlings up the Drichu-chu. Entries for early November cover travel from Kyimpu to Nyeron and on to Chayul Dzong with seed collecting (including Gentiana waltonii, Primula spp., and a new Fritillaria), weather observations, and dealings with Dzongpens and passports.

CONTENT:
81

About S. Chöling ran as far as Chunchar. It was hard on them having to do this, they should have been told to leave what they had at S. Chöling with Ama Ayalmo. She has been very kind to us all. I had a large feed with her this morning when starting off. I hear from Tarlur that Tenduk went up the Drichu-chu and was successful in getting good seedlings of Meconopsis sherriffii and also a good haul of seed, as well as some Primula cawdoriana and Primula jucunda? .

2nd November. To Kyimpu. Fine. Clouded all night, rain at 2.0 pm. Got a good collection of Gentiana waltonii (6652) 6 packets, and Primula jaffreyana 2 packets. Rhododendron lanatum var. luciferum has set no seed at all this year. From a hundred capsules or more, we got a dozen seed. Little snow on the Drichu-chu, or up these hills. Collected some more Codonopsis vinciflora, the tubers locally called KIBU eaten.

3rd November. To NYERON. Fine bright all day. No clouds after crossing the Lela. There were low clouds last night, and a good deal of fresh snow on the Main Range. This is the first really clear day we have had, and are obviously in the dry zone now. The atmosphere is as dry as it could be, and already my nails are beginning to split. Left camp about 7.0 am; in at 4.0 pm, but about 4 miles further on than Ayandro, where locals are scarce. After a long search I found about 7 capsules of the new Fritillaria on the Lela, but only one bulb. The ground was frozen under the surface, and made it difficult to dig up bulbs. We also got some Gentiana amoena forma pallida, which showed very large capsules. The capsules of the Fritillaria are squat; about 1/2" high, the bulb is quite white, and 2"-3" below the surface. Primula consocia had thrown all its seed. We got another 3 packets of Gentiana waltonii, so I now have eleven. A man from Tsona told us in Kyimpu that Tarlur was not well in Chayul Dzong, but had gone on. I do hope he gets over the Pö La alright. After that he should have no great trouble. I hardly expect to get any seed from now on until we reach the Nyam Sang Chu, which I hope will be on the 12th.

4th November. Chayul Dzong. Rather a late start, in at 12 noon. There are two Dzongpens here, one of whom is the old one of 1936. He seems very happy and does not worry about us in the least. The other one wants to see our passport, which I'm sure Pinko must have shown when Ludlow was here. Wind very strong up the valley here. Found a few Primula tibetica seed on the way.

SUMMARY:
Entries describe camps and travel around the Langong Chu Valley near Langong with rainy weather, extensive botanical observations (including Berberis, Meconopsis, and several Primula), and bird sightings such as snowcock eggs and blood pheasant. Notes mention an attempt toward the Lo La pass, information that Tsari Sama (Tsari SARPA) will not open until August, and companions Tsongpen and Chulia (the latter unwell).

CONTENT:
29

Berberis ludlowii 3851 is very common just in flower now. A fine big-flowered Berberis, 3851 is also common. The flowers are not yet close together however.

Langong Chu Valley
26th May. Camp 2 miles E. of Langong. 7 miles. Rained all night. Fine with showers all day. We started off in good style, finding many flowers, but then got out of the area, and here they are hardly out yet. Found the first Meconopsis betonicifolia 3869, in flower, a good colour. Primula alpicola is just coming into flower in one place, with the yellow form, otherwise red form. Not enough to take as specimens yet. Cremanthodium do exist here; I have seen several close to camp. Saw many snowcock eggs. Blood pheasant also seen in two places. Tsongpen shot one, but it fell at our feet and was too quick for us, running at the rate of knots into the forest again.
Fritillaria cirrhosa 3865, Pieris diffusa 3863, Rhododendron anthopogon 3861, Lysimachia prolifera 3860
Meconopsis betonicifolia 3859, Myricaria dahurica 3870

To Langong, Langong Chu Valley
27th May. Langong. 3 miles. B.P. 190.8. Temp. 58°. Time 11.00 am. Ht approx. 12083'. Rained at night. No sun today, clouded with some showers. This is a lovely valley, broad, with open grassy meadows on the left bank, but forested down to the river on the right. There are very few flowers of interest though. We saw lots of old signs of Primula cawdoriana in one nala. Primula pantlingii, P. hopeana (3880), P. sikkimensis, and P. alpicola are all coming into flower. The headman is not here just now. From information Tsongpen heard, Tsari Sama will not be open till August. It is known more as Tsari SARPA (= new) than Tsari Sama, though both are used. I shot one blackbird here today. They are very common indeed. Instead of skinning, I have injected 8 drops of a 1 to 20 solution of formalin, and 2 drops up the anus. Chulia has a bad head, looks as if he might have fever. I have no aspirin, but luckily have a little quinine and some Ortal. There are lots of Cremanthodium about.

28th May. Halt. Langong. Misty and rain nearly all day. Tsongpen T. went up towards a pass almost due South of Langong. The only name I can get is the Lo La. There is another Lo La further West. All seem to be called the same, just because Lopas come over them. It was misty; I never saw the actual Pass, though I should think it would be 15,000' and about 5-6 miles from Langong. We mean to go again. For a long way, there was nothing at all in the flower line; it began to be a bit...

SUMMARY:
Page lists plant collections with specimen numbers from Takar La on 15 Aug and additional Gentiana records from Sur La in the Phari-Kyirong-da area in 1933. Mentions Ludlow and Sherriff.

CONTENT:
aka to Ludlow & Sherriff.
Phari-Kyirong-da in 1933

Takar La 15 Aug
Swertia handelii sp. nov. 2062
Gen. namlaensis 2063, 2064
otophoroides 2073
taylori 2074
Cyananthus lobatus 2084
Prim. sikkimensis 2065, 2077, 2078
tsariensis 2067, 2081
odontica sp. nov. 2068
glabra 2070
ioessa 2071
cawdoriana 2072
ioessa subpinnatifida 2075

Sur La
Gentiana
G. rubicunda v.
parviflora 2050
tubiflora 2051
filistyla v.
parviflora 2052
infelix 2053
namlaensis 2054
tsarongensis 2055
przewalskii 2056
taylori sp. nov. 2057

SUMMARY:
Field notes list alpine plants with habitats and elevations at Karutra, Kashongha, Drogpa, and Natrampa. Entries dated in early October 1936 include species such as Dracocephalum, Rheum nobile, Fritillary, Primula spp., Meconopsis, Isopyrum, and Iris.

CONTENT:
Blue Dracocephalum Karutra. 12000' On cliff faces. Dry zone. 8/10.
Small Androsace. " 13000' Open hillside. edge of " " " .
Rheum nobile. Kashongha. 15000' 9/10.
Fritillary. probably 1611. 14-15000' Kashongha. Among dwarf rhododendron. 9/10.
Prim sikkimensis (white?) Kashongha. Open scree. 14500. 9/10.
" " v. fine, yellow " Drogpa. " "
Mec. bella. 14000' Kashongha.
Small blue Mec. Kashongha. Very stony hillside. Scapes naked from base.
Isopyrum. " " " 10 10-36.
Prim Cawdoriana not fully ripe. Kashongha. 11. 10. 36.
Prim. tenuiloba. Kashongha. Open hillside. stony ground. 14.10. 15000'
" (2162) " " " -
Iris. Natrampa.
Blue Dracocephalum. Karutra. 8/10.

SUMMARY:
A list of Primula taxa (and Omphalogramma minus) with associated numbers and brief annotations such as colors and sectional notes. Entries include Primula chionantha, P. pulchelloides, P. maximowiczii, and others.

CONTENT:
5226 Primula falcifolia 64 130
5138 A. Primula maximowiczii 65
4954 A Primula morsheadiana
5214 Primula alpicola violacea
5285 Primula vernicosa
5214 A Primula alpicola violacea 135
5284 A Primula chionantha (purple) 66
5284 Primula chionantha (yellow) 67
5171 Primula szechuanica
5218 Primula Minutissimae Sect. (No.)
4943 Primula pudibunda 140
5803 Primula glabra
5026 Primula littledalei
5034 Primula micropetala Taylor
4604 A Primula baileyana
5132 Primula Minutissima Sect. 145
4767 Primula ningguida?
5120 Primula Muscarioides Sect.
5067 Primula tibetica
5077 Primula roylei
5000 A Primula pulchelloides 68 150
5000 Primula pulchelloides
4923 Omphalogramma minus
5020 Primula cawdoriana 69
5019 Primula bellidifolia
5027 Primula sinopurpurea 155

SUMMARY:
This page lists Primula species with specimen or collection numbers and section notes, and also mentions Omphalogramma minus. It includes brief notes on seed and uncertain identifications.

CONTENT:
5229 Primula Valentiniana 183
5245 " minutissima Sect.
5407 " obtusifolia Sect. nov. 71 185
5026 A. " littledalei.
5408 " rotundifolia.
5406 " Cawdoriana
5138 B " Maximowiczii.
5120 A " hyacinthina. 190
5027 A " sino purpurea.
5423 " obtusifolia.
4900 " ?
4895 " denticulata. 72
4746 " chamaethauma. 195
4745 " sino purpurea.
4564 A " chungensis.
4928 " vernicosa.
4923 Omphalogramma minus.
4804 Primula Dickieana. 200
4831 " vernicosa.
4767 " rigida.
4770 " Petiolaris sect.
4954 " Morsheadiana.
4892 " alpicola (yellow) 205
4804 " Dickieana.
6504 " minut. (:? 5890?) Seed.
6515 " micropetala? helodoxa

Taylor
C.S.