Showing 21 results

SUMMARY:
After a sleepless night the party set off before dawn and crossed the Le La in mist with fresh snow. They observed numerous Primula species, dense rhododendrons, Abies, and a Corydalis, noting the area would be spectacular later in the season.

CONTENT:
No coolie slept last night, so neither did Ludlow or I. We were up before 4.0 am & everyone was off by 5.0 am. There had been some snow the evening before, and it was lying from about 15000 to the top of the Le La, 17180'. We heard chrysochlora on the way up but saw none. Misty on top as usual no view.

On the very top were signs of a Primula showing green - perhaps Stirtoniana. Very shortly after, we saw P. bellidifolia in flower & P. atrodentata. The ground was simply covered with P. pryingorum, looking perfectly lovely, carpeting the ground with pink. There were a number also of P. macrophylla 1561 in bloom, & lots of signs of a P. sikkimensis. Other primulas there were too, but none in flower. About 15000 the rhododendrons began, & from then on the hillsides were covered with them. I don't think I have ever seen them so thick.

Down here the W face is covered with Abies, but there are a number of pale lemon yellow rhodos too, (1557). Also any number of pink ones which seem all the same though they show different forms. I got one Corydalis too 1560. This area must be wonderful later on when everything comes out. The rhododendrons themselves must be a sight worth

SUMMARY:
List of plants noted and photographed in mid–late June, including Primula, Meconopsis, Diapensia, Sorbus, Cypripedium, with brief habitat notes (near pass, lake at pass, on cliff). Entries detail frames on Dufaycolor 15–16 and Kodachrome 16, with shipments of Dufaycolor 13–15 and Kodachrome 14–16 sent on 30/06/1949.

CONTENT:
79

B.W. 8.
1 Primula caveana. 18/6
2 " macrophylla & macrocarpa 18/6
3 Meconopsis simplicifolia & snows near pass 20/6
4 " " sp. strumosa. 20/6
5 " " & lake at pass. 20/6
6 Primula bellidifolia 21/6
7 Diapensia himalaicum. 22/6
8 Primula sapphirina 23/6
9 Primula caveana. 25/6
10 Primula pusilla ?? close 25/6
11 Sorbus 19235 26/6
12 Primula bellidifolia 27/6

Dufaycolor 15
1 Diapensia himalaicum 22/6
2 Meconopsis horridula "
3 Primula sapphirina 23/6
4 Primula caveana 25/6
5 } Sorbus urania? 19235.
6 }

D. 13, 14, 15 sent 30.6.49

Dufaycolor 16
1 Primula bellidifolia 27/6
2 Cypripedium tibeticum "
3 Primula umbratilis "
(Sent in batch 15)
4
5
6

Kodachrome 16.
Diapensia himalaicum. 22/6
(some blanks, stuck film)
Meconopsis horridula 22/6
Primula caveana 2 shots 25/6
Meconopsis simplicifolia & Rhododendron anthopogon 25/6
Primula umbratilis on cliff. 27/6

Kodachrome 14, 15, 16 sent 30.6.49

SUMMARY:
Notes abundant Primula species on hillsides and highlights several Pedicularis specimens from a nala above camp. Observes eremophila with young and shoots two snowcock, then walks to the Le La and into another valley, noting Gentiana amoena forma pallida on shale scree near the pass, not yet in flower.

CONTENT:
144

P. consocia 2284. Mec. horridula (white bella) 2286. Sax. sessiliflora 2288.
P. hyacinthina 2294

Primulas indeed all over the hillsides, but no others bar P. tsariensis, pygmaeorum, roylei & macrophylla, with a few late flowering atrodentata & masses of sikkimensis.

The nicest flower we saw was a Pedicularis 2293 (Pedic. bella v. holophylla 2293), from the nala just 1 m above camp. Another Pedicularis 2290 (Pedic. megalocheila 2290) is also very pretty (Pedic. zephanantha 2295). Saw masses of eremophila with their young about 400' above camp. They appear to have either 2 or 3 chicks. Shot two snowcock pretty high up. There were many young birds with them, able to fly.

5th July. Halt. Le La. Fine most of the morning & part of the afternoon. Went up to the Le La direct, then turned left into another valley, so circled home. On the pass there is now no snow either side. Gentiana amoena forma pallida is fairly common just near the top in pure shale scree. I also saw it further to the left on a ridge further south. It is not yet out, but I could see the flowers that they were

SUMMARY:
The diarist records abundant Primula species near camp between two passes on the way to Wangchelabh, noting P. stirtoniana (No. 3258), P. obliqua (3257), and others, with P. umbratilis not yet flowering and a small nivalis primula of special interest. During a halt at Tsophu and Dungchewang they experienced rain and thunder with brief views of snow mountains toward Tibet.

CONTENT:
Rhododendron Primulas 57

...stream falls down to camp. I found Primula stirtoniana growing well No. 3258. Later on, very close to camp, we saw masses of P. obliqua, which really is a beauty 3257. It is pure white, with a yellow eye. I see one this evening which is quite definitely pink tinged. P. umbratilis (?) is coming on, but will not be in flower for a month at least. P. strumosa is everywhere, as are P. roylei, P. macrophylla and P. glabra. P. hopeana is just coming into flower. On the whole a very good day. This camp is between the two passes on the way to Wangchelabh.

17th June. Halt. Tsophu. Dungchewang. Rain and thunder most of the night, and cloudy all day, but fine except for a few showers. Rain and thunder again at 6:00 pm. We were just clear of clouds early this morning, and could see the white line of snow mountains to the N for an hour or two. They looked perfectly wonderful, but were not in sunshine. The sky was clear in Tibet, but clouded up to the main range. Rather a disappointing day. Primulas there are, in masses. The following are common: P. hopeana, P. roylei, P. macrophylla, P. glabra, P. strumosa, P. stirtoniana (3258), P. atrodentata, P. obliqua and P. pusilla (3270). P. umbratilis (not in flower, 3213). The only thing of real interest, was a very small nivalis primula,

SUMMARY:
Notes of photographic shots on Kodachrome and Dufaycolor reels record subjects including blood pheasant, monal, and various Primula, Meconopsis, and Cypripedium, with locations such as Lobsang la, Kanta punsum, Gormotangha monastery, and Samptang. One shot mentions Ngudup with drokpas in the foreground. Reels 11–13 were sent on 15/06/1949.

CONTENT:
Kodachrome 12 Dufaycolor 11
Shots at ♀ blood pheasant. 7/6 1 Prim. alpicola v. luna. 4/6
P. calderiana yaks. 8/6 2 - - - "
Lobsang la to Kanta punsum 8/6 3 Rhod. thomsonii 19046 "
Chomby ditto telephoto " 4 Gormotangha monastery 5/6
Ditto with Ngudup & drokpas in foreground. " 5 Mec. sinuata "
Anemone narcissiflora. 8/6 6 - - - "
Lloydia serotina. "

Dufaycolor 12
1 Primula glabra. Lobsang la 8/6
2 " macrophylla. no filter 10/6
3 " " " 10/6
4 P. reticulata. 19108 13/6
5 Cypripedium tibeticum 19123 14/6
6 P. umbratilis 19128 14/6

Kodachrome 13 Dufaycolor 13
Primula macrophylla by stream 10/6 1
Mec. simplicifolia. (ov.) 10/6 2
Blood pheasant. telephoto 10/6 3 Dufay 11 & 12
Monal ♂'s 2 shots. (tele.) 12/6 4 Sent 15/6/49
Cypripedium tibeticum. 19123 14/6 5
Up valley from Samptang. 6
5 ft. lens.

11.12.13.
Sent. 15-6-49

SUMMARY:
Field notes detail several Primula species around Kulu Pher Chu and plans with the Tsungpen to reach Lamdo over a high ridge en route to Tseladzong. A wet halt day included further plant observations on avalanche-swept slopes and concerns about mail and Shadu, followed by a cold, rain-soaked march to Lamdo (11 miles) with a guide who initially took the wrong spur.

CONTENT:
Kulu Pher Chu
58
Primula

P. rhodochroa No. 5890, about 6 more flowers. P. capitata (subsp. crispata?) 5975 is common close to camp on the steep hillside. P. micropetala? (P. hesperidium) 5888 is also fairly common higher up. Then we found a few P. bellidifolia 5966 with flowers just over. Also what I at first took to be P. macrophylla, but which I think maybe P. sinopurpurea 5964. We saw a few seed specimens with two whorls of flowers. (P. kongboensis) 5970 I think might be P. petrocharis, but I don't know. P. muscoides, the violet form was just in flower still, 5971: and a fine form of P. jonardunii (P. dryadifolia) 5952, with all scapes 2-flowered was seen. Perhaps this is P. dryadifolia. The scapes held the flowers clear of the leaves which were bigger than usual. Saxifrages abound, over from a good many. This was a hard day's climb, or don't think we will do very much tomorrow, but prepare for the next day, when Tsungpen and I intend to go to Lamdo via the top of the ridge, instead of along the valley bed. It will be a long climb first, to over 15000 ft, then a long tedious traverse, before the steep descent. But I think it should be worth it, a good finish up before reaching Tseladzong. I hope to finish this book of Field Notes, up to 6000, which will give me up to 920 specimens this year. Taylor will likely have 1500 or so.

28th July. Halt. Rained a good deal at night. Clouded all day, with light rain most of the day. Had a fairly slack day today, crossing the river and going up one of the side valleys opposite camp to 13000'. It was a very steep slope which is swept by avalanche every spring, and kept bare. A good deal of snow still near the bottom, and snow has kept several plants back. We saw for instance, several Prim. atrodentata still in flower. Nomocharis nana also common, in flower. All thoughts in camp are about the mail, and whether Shadu also will be at Tsela before us. I rather doubt whether either will be before us. We ourselves will be one day early. I rather dread tomorrow's trek, especially if wet, as seems likely. We climb over 2000 ft to start off with, then have a long traverse along the hillside, before a steep descent of 5000 ft to Lamdo. However camp will be waiting ready for us, which always is nice to have.

29th July. Lamdo. 11 miles. Yesterday was a disastrous day. It poured all day and up on the hill was very cold indeed, with a strong wind. We had a Lopa to 'show us the way'. He did not start off too well, by going up the hill the wrong spur. Then we got into thick
30th July. Halt.

SUMMARY:
Field notes from Langong list multiple Primula specimens with observations on flowering, variation, and a possible hybrid, and note nearby passes (Lo La/Shethang La and Chubumbu La) used in July–August. Bird nesting records for Crossoptilon harmani and Blood Pheasant at about 12,000 ft are dated 28–29 May 1938.

CONTENT:
Langong - May 38. Primula macrocephala 3889, R. laudandum 3900, agglutinatum form 3902, Lil. nanum 3903, Gaultheria trichophylla 3905, Androsace delavayi 3906, Mec. integrifolia 3909, Trichophragma 3910, Lloydia serotina 3915.

30a Littledalei Langong

3892. Primula rotundifolia. Very early. Almost in full bloom, certainly so in a good many cases. It was in full flower on the Kashong La (15000') on 15th July.

3893. Primula chamaethauma. Has a very short flowering period, and grows where snow has just melted.
      Flowers vary a good deal in colour, but I think the very great majority are almost the same.
      When flowers fall off, the scape has not yet appeared. But this is not always the case as is shown by —

3894 P. chamaethauma x P. Roylei? 3893 and 3894 grow together. 3894 are a few specimens which seem rather different to the typical form. Both grow among P. Roylei. Is this one a cross between 3893 and P. Roylei? The long scape and the short pedicels rather point that way, and the colour of the flower is nearer P. Roylei. But it has none of the unpleasant smell of the latter, which was very noticeable in the plants of P. Roylei here.

3895. Primula macrophylla. I was not sure whether to call this P. macrophylla or P. macrocarpa. It differs from each, as far as I have seen them before. It is small for P. macrophylla, and has a very large white ring outside the eye at the base of the lobes.

3896. Primula sikkimensis. Langong.

3897. Primula yargonjensis. Langong.

VALLEY TO SOUTH has a path up it by which Lopas come in July - August. It is known as the Lo La on the South side, and the SHETHANG LA this side. Rough bearing from Langong = 145°.

VALLEY to Lopa country leaving the main valley about 1 1/2 m W. of Langong leads to the CHUBUMBU LA, also not open till July - August.

LANGONG CROSSOPTILON HARMANI. c/7. 12000'. 28.5.38. All eggs difficult to blow. Nest said to be in a hole under shrubs, no particular making of a nest, just use of a natural place.

BLOOD PHEASANT. I. kuseri. c/6 12000' 29.5.38. Chicks with a few feathers on them in all eggs. Nest under a dwarf juniper bush, in a hole in the ground. No special things used for nest, just made with the leaves of the juniper, dead grass and moss. Not lined in any way. Parent bird had been driven off before I arrived, but a few feathers of her blood pheasant were in nest, and 2 birds within 40 yds.

SUMMARY:
At Langong, the diarist records collecting several Primula and other alpine plants, observing a new warbler (P. tibetanus), and noting marmots and lingering snow. A clutch of Crossoptilon eggs and a blood pheasant egg are obtained; the gyimpon arrives and promises coolies, and plans are made to explore valleys between Pa La and Lo La before visiting the Pachakshiri Loba.

CONTENT:
Langong

depressed, but then we saw P. bariensis, and knew that there would be other things as well. For a change, the second time only, I did not take a gun, and of course saw the new warbler P. tibetanus. There were two of them, in juniper scrub, just as on the Bimbi La. Of interesting things, we saw Mec. simplicifolia - and I particularly examined the filaments, which were white. Then Tsonypon brought in a primula, which I think must be P. chamaethauma 3893 (P. chionantha 3893). Then P. macrophylla 3894, 3895 (P. macrophylla var. macrocarpa 3895) was seen. Then over a ridge we found in almost full flower that delightfully pretty - and fragrant - P. rotundifolia. On the whole a good day. There are many marmots running about, now the snow is off the ground. The actual pass is probably still covered with snow, as there were huge drifts a good deal lower than the highest we went, on the North faces. I heard on return that one man had already found a nest of Crossoptilon, but he has not brought the eggs yet.

29th May. Halt. Langong. Fine most of the day, but clouded and showery. Started in the morning about at 11.00 a.m. Saw nothing much. In fact there is remarkably little in the valley. Collected Primula yargongensis 3914. Our offer for eggs is doing well. Today got a clutch of seven eggs of Crossoptilon, nest on the ground in a bush. Later on a man came in with one blood pheasant's egg, and will see the nest tomorrow. The eggs were very difficult to blow, having chicks inside. (P. dryadifolia 3917, Rhododendron v. microstoma 3918, Ranunculus 3919, 3923, Primula 3925, Gal. nambanensis 3920, Corydalis 3921, 3922, Lonicera litangensis 3926).

30th May. Halt. Langong. Mostly fine in Langong, but rain mist on the hills all day. I went up the valley immediately North of Langong village, running parallel to the Tscha valley. There is nothing in any of these valleys till one gets to 13,500 feet or so. Then primulas appear. This is a fine valley, with a good sized lake at about 13,500 feet above which there is a fine waterfall. But flowers are few and far between, and I think we are really too early yet. The gyimpon has arrived, seems very helpful and friendly. He wants to go off for 8 days, but has promised coolies all I want in the meantime. My plans are to stay here two more days, and then go West, up a valley which lies between the Pa La and Lo La routes. Stay there four days and return here for two before going off to the Pachakshiri Loba on the 9th, for a week. That will take up all the time I can spare in this area. Everything here seems to be late. Snow lies pretty thick on the hills yet, and nearly all passes are shut. Tsari Sama - known generally as Tsari Sarpa, "the new Tsari" is not

SUMMARY:
Notes record plant collections around Chiniung La and Langong, including Primula and Pedicularis species with specimen numbers. The 4-mile route from Langong to Chiniung La over the Main Range is described, with fir forest, deep snow drifts near the pass, Lopas crossing the pass with past fatalities, and a large lake south of the pass still half iced.

CONTENT:
Chiniung La 20 June

5606. Primula rotundifolia. Pretty common round about Langong in typical habitat. Chiniung La

5607. Primula macrophylla. Same as 3895. Grows much bigger here than in Bhutan, or than I have ever seen before. Chiniung La

5608. Primula hopeana. This is the true P. hopeana, which I have not got before this, although I thought I had once. It grows close to, or among Pedicularis No 3932, but is quite distinct from that No. Chiniung La

X. Langong to CHINIUNG LA. 4 miles. The bearing from the Pass, which is over the Main Range, to Langong, is 325°M. Leave Langong across the Langong Chu by the bridge & follow up the R. bank of the valley 1/2 m to the E of the bridge, through fir forest at first. Path easy the whole way, fairly steep near the Pass, where there are still a lot of deep snow drifts. (BP. 185.0. T. 51. 9.0am. 20/6/38.) Descent on S side steep at first, approx South. Lopas come over this pass about this time, the first two having arrived last week. It seems to be a dangerous pass as 5 Lopas died on it last autumn. About 500' below the pass on the South there is a large lake, still half covered with ice.

Chiniung La 20 June

Pedicularis megalochila f. rhodantha 5607. Pedicularis mycophylla var. megalophylla 5613, type. Pedicularis takpoensis 5614.
Pedicularis bella var. holophylla 5615. Pedicularis siphonantha 5616.
Meconopsis horridula 5612.

SUMMARY:
Seed collection list from Meda with specimen numbers, including multiple entries dated Oct 4 and a page heading of Oct 5. Species listed include various Lonicera, Primula, Meconopsis, and Gentiana.

CONTENT:
Meda Oct 5 Seeds

Lonicera glabrata 1009, Oct 4
Thalictrum cultratum 1010 Oct 4
Geranium refractum 1011 Oct 4
Primula dickieana 1012 Oct 4
Berberis himalaica 1013 - typ.
Halenia elliptica 1014
Gentiana elwesii 1015
Delphinium elatum 1016
Gentiana elwesii 1017
Lonicera tomentella v. tsarongensis 1018
Cnicus involucratus 1019
Primula sikkimensis 1020
Meconopsis grandis 1021
Saussurea conica 1022
Lactuca macrantha 1023
Gentiana prolata 1024
Berberis macrosepala var. setifolia 1025
Lonicera parvifolia 1026
Codonopsis nervosa 1027, 1028
Meconopsis simplicifolia 1029
Dracocephalum speciosum 1030
Primula macrophylla 1032
Meconopsis sinuata 1033
Meconopsis horridula 1034
Gentiana phyllocalyx 1035
Cyananthus lobatus 10