Showing 11 results

SUMMARY:
Field notes from Tum La on 7–8 July record multiple Primula and other alpine species, with observations on colour forms, abundance, and habitat. The page also notes a path from near Nagu toward the Tunga La and describes the easier south-side descent of Tum La, with the village of Datang reported as two marches away.

CONTENT:
46a
Tum La 7 & 8 July

5762. Primula reticulata flexitipes? Nagu Chu
5763. Primula aff. alpicola violacea. Tum La. I don't know this colour variation, if this is P. alpicola. A very pretty primula, constant as far as I saw. Only on the Pass from the South side.
      8/7. Common to the E of the Tum La.
5764. Primula calliantha nivalis Sect. Tum La. No flowers seen. Two very wet & quite withered flowers were found on one plant, often seemed to be yellow, I have not seen this primula before. Not common here.
5765. Omphalogramma elwesiana minus? Tum La. Common, but flowers nearly all over.
5766. Primula barbata? Tum La. Very like 3990, but rather bigger, perhaps because taken later.
5767. Primula vernicosa. Tum La. Leaves were rather like P. Boothii for which I at first took it, but the short pedicels put it as P. vernicosa I think. P. elizabethae 5777.
5768. Meconopsis lyrata var. flava aff. argemonantha. Tum La. Although the colour is "pale lemon yellow" the yellow is very distinct, & could not be mistaken for white ever. Otherwise appears very like P. argemonantha, obtained from a very similar habitat. 8-10 left for seed numbered, but the place will be hard to find, as the mist was so thick today we could see nothing of the ridge we were on even.

Rhod. cerasina 5768, Chariessa 5769, Diapensia multiflora 5772. Tofieldia yunnanensis 5773. Rosa sericea 5776.
Cremanthodium reniforme 5780. Rhod. trilectorum sp. nov. 5782.

X. Near the bridge this side of our first camp & Nagu a path leads to the East, to the Tunga La, over which Lopas come in August (a different sort to these). The Tunga La would be a day's march from the Nagu Chu.

X. Descent on South side of Tum La is easier than on the North, but the path very bad indeed, in heavy rain, is a torrent. Direction at first South, then S.E. The distance to the first village, called DATANG is said to be two marches for laden men, about 15-20 miles probably.

SUMMARY:
The page lists Primula and Omphalogramma specimens (nos. 6504–6554) with identifications, comparisons to earlier numbers, and locality notes. It records that Primula Elizabethae was collected at its type locality (1886), that on May 15th plants were under 3 ft of snow, and seed likely ripened about 15th September. Several entries note proximity to prior collections (e.g., 5872) and observations on forms and seed set.

CONTENT:
68a

6504 Primula rhodochroa Minut. Sect. Gonyore. Possibly equals no 5890. Yes.

6515. " micropetala? belle-ish? Kulu Phu Chu. hyacinthina. Kulu Phu Chu. I was looking for No 5888 but could not find it. This was some miles away.

6516. " Aliceae. Calliantha. Kulu Phu Chu. Kulu Phu Chu. Calliantha. Taken quite close to where I got 5872, I think there is no doubt it is the same thing.

6517. " Morsheadiana. prenautha. Tsarang La. This is the high altitude form, bigger flower, never candelabra in form.

6518. " Aliceae. calliantha. calliantha Tsarang La. This is from the same place as 5872.

6519. " Valentiniana. Yes. valentiniana Tsarang La. Same place as 5866.

6520. " aff glabra. ? Kulu Phu Chu. Lo La.

6521. Omphalogramma brachysiphon. v. Lo La. Too far gone for me to say. It may be O. minus.

6522. Primula Elizabethae. Yes. La La. From type locality (1886). The seeds are nearly all blown out. This collection represents 2 days' work! On May 15th these were under 3 ft. of snow. Seed must have been fully ripe about 15th September.

6523. Primula ? laeta? Chamaethauma. Do La. Taken from approximately the same spot as the type specimen of P. laeta. It does not appear to be either P. Roylei (calderiana), or P. tsonanensis, the only other two Petiolares I could find there. Roots taken with soil without: the winter bud wrapped in moss.

6524. " Roylei. calderiana. Do La. Only taken in case it might be P. laeta.

6525. " Subularia. v. Do La. Very few seeds in capsules.

6526. " Dryadifolia Sect. tsonapensis. Do La. tsonapensis tsonapensis. This is the same primula as my Nos. 5865 + 5931. This would be very pretty in cultivation. Would like to try seeds on moss on a damp, sloping boulder.

SUMMARY:
This page lists botanical specimens, chiefly Primula and Omphalogramma, with collection numbers and localities including Chianang, Lanzung, and Chubumbula. Several varieties and putative hybrids are noted.

CONTENT:

3951. Primula verrucosa, var. violacea. Chianang. Lanzung. 32
3952. Primula Valentiniana. Chianang. Lanzung. 33. A
3953. Omphalogramma minus. Chubumbula. 34. O
3954. Omphalogramma brachysiphon. Chubumbula.
3955. Primula aff P. strumosa Pet. Sect. sp. nov. Chubumbula. 35. P
3956. Primula tsariensis x P. strumosa sp. nov. Chubumbula. P
3957. Primula Elizabethae. Chubumbula. 36. N
3958. Primula prenantha. Chubumbula.
3959. Primula Clutterbuckii. Chubumbula.
3960. Primula kongboensis. Chubumbula. 37.
3961. Primula Dickieana var alba. Chubumbula. A
3962. Primula barbatula. Chubumbula. 38. B
3963. Primula alpicola. Lanzung. 39. S
3964. Primula loessa x Trashigong. Lanzung.
3965. Primula loessa x Trashigong. Lanzung.
3966. Primula loessa x Hopeana

SUMMARY:
A catalog of specimens numbered 6517–6616, chiefly Primula with one Omphalogramma entry, noting collected material (seed, roots), sectional attributions, and cross-references to earlier numbers. Includes remarks on identifications and that Primula capitata has seed only with no herbarium specimen.

CONTENT:

6517. Primula Nivalis sect. nov. = (? 5872). Seed. Calliantha
6518. " " Morsheadiana " 210
6519. " " Niv. sect. nov. = 5872. Calliantha
6520. " " Valentiniana = 5856 "
6521. " " aff. glabra "
6522. Omphalogramma brachysiphon? "
6523. Primula Elizabethae. Roots and " 215
6524. " " laeta? roots as well.
6525. " " Roylei. " "
6526. " " subularia " C.S.
6527. " " Dryadifolia = 5865, 5931. "
6528. " " aff. atrodentata = 3636. " 220
6529. " " Boothii. = 3671 Roots.
6530. " " tsariensis = 3873 Roots.
6531. " " Normaniana = 3650 Roots & "
6532. " " Cawdoriana sect. = 3699 Roots.
      aff. bariensis Roots taken. Taken for small yellow Pet. primula which was not seen. 225
6533. " " odontica Kingii = 5570. Seed
6534. " " Pet. sect. yellow = 5573. Roots also.
6535. " " chamaeuthamna = 5589 Roots also
6536. " " prenantha var. Morsheadiana = 5587. Seed.
6537. " " pudibunda? = ? 3982? " 230
6538. " " aff. strumosa = 3983 Roots.
6539. " " Elizabethae = 3985. Roots.
6540. " " capitata. v. good Seed. No Herb. specimen.
6541. " " sikkimensis sect. " " Might be P. weissii.

SUMMARY:
Page lists specimen numbers and Primula (and Omphalogramma) taxa with collection localities. Notes include sections, color/flowering status, and identification remarks, with repeated entries from the same sites.

CONTENT:

5606. ✓ Primula littledalei Chinning La. Lanjong. 81.
      5608 ✓ " macrocarpa. " " 82
      5609 ✓ " Hopeana. " " 83
      5635 ✓ " hyacinthina. Tse La. 43. 84.
      5644 ✓ " Florindae. Gyara Phu Chu. Molo. 44 85
      5656 ✓ " Jaffreyana. Molo.
5607. ✓ " Flexilipes? reticulata Tum La (Nagu Chu) S
      5770 ✓ " alpicola. purple. " "
      5777 ✓ " Elizabethae
      5785 ✓ " Nivalis Sect. No flower. Calliantha 45 N
      5786 Omphalogramma minus. " " 90
      5791 o Primula barbatula ? : 3990? " "
      5794 ✓ " vernicosa. " "
      5808 ✓ " Whitei (?) Nagu Chu.
      5865 ✓ " Dryadifolia Sect. (sp nov?) Tsanangla. Paka. 46. D
      5866 o " Valentiniana. " " 95
      5867 ✓ " Chamaethauma. " "
      5872 ✓ " Nivalis Sect = 5785.? Calliantha "
      5877 ✓ " alpicola, amber var. " "
      5887 ✓ " (Baileyana) Littledalei Gongire. Pana Phu Chu. 47.
      5888 ✓ " micropetala. hyacinthina. " 48. 100.
      5889 ✓ " nivalis Sect ?? (no flowers) amabilis " 49. N
      5890 o " sp. aff. atrodentata ? " " 50.
      5917 ✓ " Jaffreyana. Kulu Phu Chu, Paka.
      5922 o " Chungensis. " " 51. C.
      5924 ✓ " Chamaethauma " " 105.

SUMMARY:
The diarist records extensive Primula and Omphalogramma observations around a steep pass, notes multiple slips on a difficult grass slope, and experiences photographic mishaps in wind, mist, and rain. They glissade down avalanche snow, then travel to Langong in heavy rain, buy a young yak, develop photographs, and plan to go to the Lo La on the 10th.

CONTENT:
Omph brachysiphon

must be Omphalogramma brachysiphon 3982. Under 3762 all flowers had five lobes, & here again the first dozen I looked at had five, but some have six. Over the pass we walked right into what must be Primula aff strumosa chionantha 3983, it was in masses, extending for a mile or so under the foot of cliffs & down avalanche shoots. Beyond it we came across P. barbatula 3990, on the cliff faces, very hard to get at. P. tsariensis was everywhere. Then we went down the most slippery & difficult grass slope I have been on and all took many tosses. On it, again in masses was Prim. Elizabethae 3985 or must now, rather reluctantly, say it is the finest primula I know. It extended down 200 yards of very steep slope. As Ludlow said "A truly magnificent primula". We also saw lots of P. Geraldinae 3987, collected before under 3640 + the high altitude P. mosheoidea 3986. An interesting specimen is No 3984, which to my mind must be a natural cross between P. tsariensis (tsariensis x chionantha?), which it most resembles & P. hilaris from which it gets its queer colour. There was little else down to the fir trees, which began about 1000' below the Pass. Left at 5.0 am, back at 3.0 pm. Mist & rain from then on. The coolies' stories of thick snow on the south was all wrong. Barring avalanche snow, there was none.

Photograph
I had a wild catastrophe today. Went out with only a few films in the film pack case behind the spares I had put all ready. Of course I wanted more than I had. The Dufaycolor film pack let me down & I wasted three precious exposures, owing to one film coming adrift in some queer way. Then when I tried to photograph P. Elizabethae in mass, the wind, mist & rain were so bad, I had to give up after half an hour's walking & hoping. The flowers would not keep still & it was hopeless to form trying. We finished the day by glissading down the avalanche snow from the Pass for nearly a mile - a new form of sport to Kusho, who seems to get quite a bit of fun out of these excursions. R. campylocarpum 3994, vernicatum 3991, forrestii 3995, populare 3997, etc. louloula 3992.

11900' 8th June. To Langong. 6 miles. Heavy rain all night. Scenery occluded today. Coolies turned up in good time, and for here about 11.0 am. Things have come on a bit here, but flowers are still very few & far between. Bought a young yak, only a few months old, for Rs. 3/-. Got all my photographs developed this afternoon, & will make preparations for going to the Lo La on the 10th.

SUMMARY:
Notes record Primula specimens at Kucha La, including forms of P. dryadifolia and an unidentified capitata-like plant with densely hairy, non-farinose leaves. The page lists distribution ranges for several Primula and Omphalogramma taxa across passes from Tum La and Chubumbu La through Kucha La, Lusha La, Tamnyen La, and into Bhutan and China.

CONTENT:
55a Kucha La

5931. = 5865. Primula Dryadifolia Sect. (Tsongpen) Kucha La. Very common here.
5932. " " Jonarduni (Dryadifolia). " " " " , grows close to 5931.
5933. " " macrocarpa (macrophylla true form). Kucha La. White round the eye not prominent as in 3895.
5934. " " aff capitata.? (Concholoba) Kucha La. I don't recognize this. The leaves have no farina, rare, densely
      covered with long hairs. Unfortunately, only these three specimens were seen.

PRIMULAS. Primula Elizabethae. Extent from TUM LA to CHUBUMBU LA. Its place in the East seems to be taken by
" 5872 Calliantha " " TUM LA to KUCHA LA + Lusha La + Tamnyen La.
" Valentiniana " " China to CHUBUMBU LA.
" odontica " " Tsari Sama (not seen on Chining La or Chubumbu La) to TAKAR LA.
" tsariensis " " LO LA to Tsari Chikchar and then in Bhutan.
" Dryadifolia sect. 5865 (Tsongpen) " " TSANANG LA to KUCHA LA + LO LA
" Chamaethauma " " LUSHA LA to PA LA
Omphalogramma minus " " CHUBUMBU LA to TUM LA. + TAMNYEN LA.
" brachysiphon " " " " " " " " 186-2 57 2.6pm 140.7 = 148.5
Primula Boothii " " HA, Bhutan to NYUG LA PACHAKSHIRI.
" Whitei " " Central Bhutan to DOSHONG LA. (replaced by P. sonchifolia?)

SUMMARY:
Diary records travel from Lo La and Singo Samba to Molo, where Taylor arrives, followed by several halt days to reorganise. The party then moves to camps on the Langong Chu and above Singo Samba while Ludlow and Taylor explore down the Lilung Chu; mail and future rendezvous plans are noted. Botanical collecting is mentioned throughout, though limited by logistics and weather.

CONTENT:
Lo La
May 16. R. forrestii var. repens 3783, Primula 3784, Calostrotum 3785.
Singo Samba, Loda Chu near Molo. May 16. R. chaetomallum var. chamaephytum 3786. R. ponderosum 3792. 78.
P. calderiana 3788, locosa 3789. Paraquilegia anemonoides 3790. Lloydia tibetica 3791. R. laudum var. lucidum 3793.

masses, just coming into flower now. There is still a lot of snow on this side; Ludlow's Primula elizabethae has still a covering of 3ft over it. But I saw it on the south of the pass in masses yesterday on a small patch clear of snow. It was 1-1 1/2" up, so it won't be very long in coming away now. We hear here that there is no news of Taylor yet in Molo. They know of our coming. However, no news is good news, as had he had to turn back, I think our mail would have arrived with news of Taylor's return. We all crossed this fine bridge in style; Ludlow had no great difficulty this time. He could not have turned whether he wanted to or not.

Taylor arrives
17th May. To Molo. 10 miles. Fine road. Arrived in Molo 1:30 pm. Taylor walked in at about 3:00, before our kit had arrived. A wonderfully well-timed meeting, seeing he was last talked to by either of us in London by phone on 12th Feb.

Molo - Halt, reorganise kit and loads, buying bags of flour, developing photographs, planning future.
18, 19, 20, 21, 22 and 23rd May. Halt Molo. Dry sunny weather on the whole. Taylor is collecting masses of things, thoroughly happy. I have been too busy to get very much collecting done. Coolies were difficult. We should have been off on the 23rd, but no one turned up at all.

24th May. To Camp on Langong Chu, 5 miles south of Molo. Rained all night. Heavy rain 7:00 to 9:00 then a fine day. Coolies and ponies all turned up and we were off at 7:00. As we had had so much trouble last time, I did not try to go far, and kit was all in by 2:00 pm. Ludlow and Taylor went off down the Lilung Chu, starting at the same time. They have Pinso, Tenduk, Dawd, Ramzana and Tsering. I have Cutha, Kusho and Tsourpon. I fancy they are off to a very good area, though there will be some trouble in getting there. But this area also will be good, and also will be difficult. Nothing of interest to me was found today. The mail went off at 6:30, and then we were glad to get on the move again. We hope to see our next mail when we all meet at Tsala Dz. on 31st July. They will not come via Molo, but direct down the river, and should take 21 days or so.

25th May. To Camp 3 miles above Singo Samba. 7 miles. Height approx. 11,500'. Rained during the night. Fine today except for showers. Nothing much seen along the river bank. The path is in fine forest most of the way, with a few small clearings every now and then. Primula prenantha 3848.

SUMMARY:
At Lo La the diarist records clear, cold weather, intensive seed collecting of Primula and Omphalogramma, and notes on phenology and collection numbers. He mentions health issues (Kusho’s fever, his own heart), logistics and routes for Ludlow and Taylor via Gacha to Rolo, a returned coolie from Tsungpain, and observations over Lopa country, with Jia remembered for recognizing past camps.

CONTENT:
70 Lo La
omph. brachysiphon 6546

Could see, I have nearly two full packets of seed. Both the Omphalogrammas are over, hardly a seed left. I have not had time for more yet. There is not a cloud in the sky these evenings and the whole place is most beautiful. Very cold, hard frost at night. Kusho is sick tonight, but just a touch of fever I think. One of Tsungpain's coolies has returned, so I fear he may have some trouble. I don't know the reason: he merely says he was sent back. Ludlow and Taylor will I hope get over the bridge tomorrow up to Rolo. It was hard luck on them, and will make them late. However I believe all transport is ready for them in Rolo when they arrive, and that is something. I have been feeling my heart the last two days, and must go quietly for a bit. It is a pity now, just when there is such a lot to do, which means a lot of climbing. We still have Tsari Sama (2 passes), Tsela, Chikung La, Chubumbu La and the two to Nyigutun, Todo, and one at Nyigutun and Chikchar.

6th October. Halt. Lo La. Not a cloud all day. I went on collecting P. Elizabethae 6547, and have now five packets. Surely since one will raise something from these. That represents about seven hours work, four of them with 2 of us collecting. No P. Valentiniana seed. Omphalogramma all thrown too almost. P. Elizabethae was under 3-4 ft of snow on 15th May. The seeds must have been at their best for collecting on about 15-25th Sept. — a wonderfully short season. I hear today that Ludlow and Taylor have gone round by Gacha: presumably Pintso has come to Rolo, and if that is so, there can be no mail, or I should have heard. Jia is funny the way she remembers all our camps of even April, where we stopped only a night. She runs ahead when near them and sits down there waiting for the transport to come up.

7th October. Halt. Lo La. Fine, but cloudy a good deal of the day. Although cloudy here, I could see over the Lo La and away down over Lopa country as far as one could see, and it was absolutely clear, so I don't think there will be much snow or hail. The clouds too are coming from the East. I went up today to see if I could find Primula lactea. We got good seeds of P. Valentiniana, and found both P. Subularia and my new Dryadifolia Sect Prim (5865) tsangpoensis and got seed of them — a good collection of the latter, which was coming into flower again. I saw P. Jonarduni flowering.

SUMMARY:
Lists live plants to be sent by KLM freight to London and the R.B.G. Edinburgh, noting a large quantity of roots, bulbs, and tubers collected. Describes severe weather at Chumbumbu La and successful but difficult seed collecting trips from Langong to the Chiniung La, with plans to march to Migyitun.

CONTENT:
75 Live Plants Collected
Chumbumbu La Oct 17 P. chionantha 6609 P. elizabethae 6610
mec. violacea 6611.

...the live plants wanted, which are now: 1 small plant Pedicularis, 1 small Primula Aliciae, 1 Elizabethae (Lola) 2 Tsariensis (Lola) 1 Rowlei (Lola) & laeta (Lola) 1 ? Clutterbuckii (Lola) 1 Boothii (Lola) 1 yellow Pet. Sect. (Lola) 1 big plant Tsariensis (Lola) 1 yellow Pet sect (Tsari Sama) 1 yellow Pet sect (Chumbumbu La) 1 Elizabethae (Chumbumbu La). All these are at the moment timed to arrive in London on the 12th Dec, & in the R.B.G. Edinburgh on early morning of 13th! Ludlow & Taylor also have a good bundle of roots too, & altogether we have far more roots, bulbs & tubers than ever brought back before. So I hope we get them successfully home this time. I intend to send all by KLM freight, & shudder at the thought of how much they will cost.

17th October. Langong. Rain all night & day. Very cold indeed on the Chumbumbu La, in fact everywhere. Today was a repetition of yesterday, really beastly weather, a strong wind driving rain & sleet. We got a few seed of P. Elizabethae 6610, roots of it & of the Pet. Primula & also seeds of the Primula aff. Clutterbuckii, which I did not expect. Also a few of Omphalogramma brachysiphon 3952. The others I have taken as these are probably nearly all O. minus, with perhaps a small mixture of O. brachysiphon. So cold & beastly up the last camp, that as we were back by 12.30, we packed up at once & came on here, arriving at 4.0pm. No sign of rain stopping, in fact the locals say this is a very wet month, rain below & snow on the hills. We thus save a day, & tomorrow I must go up to the Chiniung La to finish off the Langong collecting.

18th October. Halt. Heavy rain all night & all today. Tsongpen & I went up to the Chiniung La, making an early start. Snow was everywhere above about 13500 & nearly a foot deep on the Pass. However we did better than I expected, & got some of all the seeds we were for except the little dwarf Lonicera, which had dropped its seed & was hardly to be seen. P. macrocarpa had very few seed, nearly every capsule was blind. And so now I have finished all seed collecting from flowers seen this year. The rest of our march is either over new ground, or over the old 1936 ground. But there can be little but Rhododendrons with any seed left. All seems fixed for our march to Migyitun on the 20th, rather to my surprise. At present I cannot make out the route, but