Showing 6 results

SUMMARY:
The diarist ascends from Gonghe Gompa to the Lao La, crosses the pass, and collects a new Primula (P. geraniifolia, No. 3173) and notes Androsace geraniifolia (3175) in abies mixed forest. On 3rd June they halt at Lao La amid rain and mist, visit a cliff-top monastery, proceed to Jigche La, descend to Longtegang, join the main east–west road to the Pele La, and continue along a rough contouring path.

CONTENT:
Gompa. Thence path keeps up the hillside to the North, climbs up a ridge of the hill Gonghe Gompa is on, just to the north of the Gompa.

There are about 30 houses here. From here keep up the ridge at a bearing of 8° M, bearing a little to the Lao La, which is reached at m 7. The path from the Gompa to the La is good, and the hillside open. We saw little till up here, and even here there does not appear to be much. But we went over the La and down the other side, where I found one new Primula - P. geraniifolia, No. 3173.

We also saw a little of Androsace geraniifolia 3175. The primula I have not collected before, and I see Cooper only collected it in seed. It is a pretty little thing. We only saw it in one isolated spot in abies mixed forest, among fallen tree trunks.

3rd June. Halt. Lao La. Rained on and off all day, with mist low on the hills. We went East, to a big cliff on top of which is a small monastery. Though it looked excellent for flowers, we saw none. Then on to the Jigche La, on the same ridge as this. The path leads down the East side, through pretty thick forest to Longtegang. Here we met the main E.-W. road, and followed it up to the Pele La. Over this, and down 1/2 mile a very rough path, which was lost many times, leads more or less along the contours, and finally comes out.

SUMMARY:
Notes of Kodachrome, Dufaycolour and B.W. photographs of Primula, Rhododendron, Enkianthus, Clematis, Saxifraga, and landscape subjects across late May 1949. Mentions sending Dufay films 5 and 6 from Tang on 19/05/1949 and includes scenes such as an old man at Ngang Lhakang, rain on rose leaves, a river below Pang Sang, and a view towards Kankar Punsum from Pangotang.

CONTENT: Kodachrome G.S. 9 Dufaycolour 6
Rhod. rhabdotum 18877. 17/5. 1 Rhod. glaucum 18887 18/5.
Rhod. glaucum 18887 18/5. 2 Prim. Roylei 18895 18/5.
Prim. Roylei 18895 18/5. 3 Prim. elongata 18896 18/5.
Prim. elongata 18896 18/5. 4 Rhod. Thomsonii 18/5.
Rhod. Thomsonii against light 18/5. 5 } not exposed.
Primula geraniifolia 18913 20/5. 6 }
Primula geraniifolia 18913 21/5. Dufay 5 & 6 sent off 19/5/49 Tang
Old man at Ngang Lhakang. 21/5.

Dufaycolour 7
1 Primula geraniifolia 18913 20/5.
2 Primula geraniifolia 18913 21/5. B.W. 5. 3 Enkianthus 18909 & Clematis 18912 22/5.
1 Primula geraniifolia 18913 20/5. 4 Rhod. cinnabarinum yellow. 24/5.
2 Primula geraniifolia 18913 21/5. 5 Rhod. campanulatum 25/5.
3 Old man at Ngang Lhakang 21/5. 6 Saxifraga 18972 26/5.
4 Enkianthus 18909 & Clematis 18912 22/5.
5 Rain drops on rose leaves. 23/5.
6 River below Pang Sang. 25/5.
7 Rhod. cinnabarinum yellow. 24/5.
8 View up to Kankar Punsum from Pangotang. 24/5.
9 Rhod. campanulatum or Wallichii 25/5.
10 Saxifraga 18972 Pangotang 26/5.
11 P. Calderiana white form. 27/5.
12 Rhod. Wightii? (18998) & elongata 28/5.
Batemanii

SUMMARY:
The diarist notes magpies and quail, sends mail to H.H., Kalimpong, and Betty, and dispatches a box of dried flowers to Byakar Dz. On 20th May they march about five miles to Takhung via the Tang chu and Takhung chu, note altitude observations, collect Primula geraniifolia, and describe a well-made camp near Bumthang. The entry opens the next day's move toward Shabejetang.

CONTENT:
There are still a number of magpies about here, so they certainly breed. Also since we were here in April, there are many quail in the standing crops. One can hear them all day. I send off a mail from here to H.H., Kalimpong and Betty via H.H.. Also tomorrow morning Lundrup will take in a box of dried flowers to go to Byakar Dz. into our other boxes.

20th May Takhung About 5 miles. Heavy rain last night, fine this morning till 11.0. This was a nice march, up the Tang chu for a mile or so then cross to the R bank and up a side valley, called the Takhung chu. The path is half over open grassland and half through easy forest. The whole country here is very open and pleasant looking. Crops look very good this year. Here they are barley and wheat almost entirely. We have come up quite a lot, so I was surprised to see the alt. is only just over 10000'. I have always called Tang the same height as Bumthang which it obviously is not. It cannot be above 9000 at the outside. Today we found one more primula to add to the total, now 13. This is P. geraniifolia 18913, common in the forest beside streams. This seems rather low for it. I have always found it mostly above 12000'. This is a grand camp, but could do with being 1000 ft. higher. The forest is mostly tsuga and picea. Near Bumthang as we are, the locals make very good camps for us. I allowed Ngudup to persuade me to say we still wanted them. Here, in a lovely open place, the servants have a fine hut, while I have a very fine latrine - as if one could want such a thing here. However, if I don't use it, I see that a cow at any rate, has gone in and used it much more fully than I ever could have.

21st May Shabejetang Very wet last night, rain until we were

SUMMARY:
Notes on abundant Primula geraniifolia and P. whitei in rhododendron and bamboo forest, distinguishing them from Boothii, and a route description from Cangke Gompa over Tigche La to Longkegang. Records include sighting and photographing a blood pheasant with chicks, a rainy halted day with mist, and only a few Rhod. glaucum seen while awaiting mail.

CONTENT:
on the north side of the Lao La ½ m from the pass. But we
only saw Primula geraniifolia, which we saw in masses. It was
very common, always in thick rhododendron & bamboo forest,
liking small stream banks rather damp steep banks. There is
a lot of P. whitei, but none in ripe seed yet. Both P. whitei
& Boothii have now huge leaves, big fat scapes. But they
can easily be distinguished by the shape of leaves, & the fact
that Boothii never has the winter bud. // From Cangke Gompa
a path leads up the Ridge to the north, towards a big cliff,
which it passes, keeping to the Right, at m 3. At m 4 the
Tigche La is reached. From here the descent is steep at
first, gradually easing, to m 7 where Longkegang is reached. //
I came across blood pheasant with newly hatched chicks, &
spent a long time looking for chipped eggs, but saw none. Took
some photos of the male bird.
4th June. Halt. Rained in night, was misty all morning, with
some rain. Clouds low on hills. We did another big circle, to the
west today, but saw nothing of interest, except a few more
bushes of Rhod. glaucum. I have been expecting a mail for
several days now, but there is no sign of one coming.

SUMMARY:
Notes list seed needs and collections with specimen numbers and plant observations (e.g., Meconopsis, Primula, Notholirion) from areas including Tongsa Chu valley, Bumthang, Kyikyi La, Yuto La, and Tongsa-Tashiling. Mentions locations such as a cliff below Mandating and a Yakherd hut, with additional observations near camp.

CONTENT:
Seed wanted from Tongsa Chu valley. From Bumthang
19437 Meconopsis bella cliff below Mandating. Clematis big.
19439 White Androsace. just below there. Honeysuckle " x
19441 ? pink striped flower " Briggsia yellow on trees. x
Notholirion hyacinthinum. at Yakherd hut. Podocarpum. x
19447 Primula geraniifolia
19464 " hopeana - some with red tube.
Fine big Polygonum just beside them.
19467 Big thistle.
Meconopsis horridula.
" sinuata.
19469 Primula pusilla
? glabra.
Anemone rupicola.
Meconopsis horridula.
" sinuata
" bella
Thistle big white.
Iris blue.
19490 Lily x x x
19494 Polygonum fine big flowers. behind rhodo scrub in clearing.
19484 Geranium big flowered same clearing.
19498 Notholirion macrophyllum.
Yellow orchid on rock 100x before camp R side.

Seed from Kyikyi La. Rhododendron ciliatum. Notholirion macrophyllum, Thalictrum chelidonii. 19544.
Yuto La. Big clematis Gaultheria, Streptopus, Smilacina oleracea,
Tongsa-Tashiling. Codonopsis purpurea. Lily. alt. Briggsia White rose

19558. 19559. 19561.

SUMMARY:
List of seeds and plants to collect along the route from Ha to Ha la, with notes on locations such as 2 m above Damthang, top of pass, and 1/2 m before pass. Includes mention of 54 Codonopsis tubers marked with sticks.

CONTENT:
Seeds to collect from Ha to Ha la.

Codonopsis sp. nr. 19620 54 tubers marked with sticks.
Primula geraniifolia 2 m above Damthang.
Polygonum vacciniifolium & Roots
Primula pusilla
Primula Pet-Sect. Roots. top of pass
Potentilla white red centre
Meconopsis superba
Cyananthus lobatus.
Primula elongata.
Primula kingii. 1/2 m before pass