Showing 8 results

SUMMARY:
The party moved up the valley with coolies burdened by heavy loads and delays at Molo, noted weather changes, and observed several rhododendrons and primulas. On 22 April at a camp above Singo Samba, a hazardous bridge crossing led Ramzana to cross while Ludlow forded downstream with Tseringpen. On 23 April, despite fresh snow and the coolies’ refusal to move, Ludlow, Tseringpen, and the diarist scouted and broke a path to the Lo La pass, checking known plant sites now under snow.

CONTENT:
have weighed at least 130 lbs. In most cases the coolies also carried a lot of stuff to trade in Pachakshiri, so they have very heavy loads. We left at 7:15 and were in at 12:15, but transport did not arrive until about 4:00 pm, chiefly because they all went to Molo to drink chang and get extra loads to take for themselves. A small shower of rain at 4:00 pm, but evening clear. Rhododendrons are more in flower up this valley than at Molo, R. 3624 (3631) is common. R. cinnabarinum is just coming into flower and R. vellereum is in flower in a good many places. P. Roylei just in flower common.

22nd April. Camp 4 m. above Singo Samba. 7 miles. Rained and snowed a good deal during the night. Fine but clouded all morning. Fine rain and mist by 12:00 noon and for rest of the day. No flowers today, and really rather few signs of them. Nearly up here, Primula prenantha is common, but only leaves visible yet. P. glabra is just in flower beside camp. P. atrodentata also shown here. The bridge at Singo Samba is not nice - it consists of only one usable plank, with another a foot lower and very wavy. The length is about 30 yards and the height above water 15 ft. Ramzana crossed first in good style, but Ludlow preferred to ford the river 200 yards further down. Poor Ramzana ran, or did his best to, twice more across the bridge when he saw Ludlow about to ford. I'm afraid I was angry with Ludlow for telling no-one but Tseringpen, whom he took with him, what he was going to do. The valley up here looks lovely and should hold good flowers when they come on. Isopyrum is just showing new leaves on the cliffs on the R. bank. A few seed were found.

23rd April, Halted Camp. Clouded early, fine and bright till 2:00 pm, then cloudy and some rain. We were all ready to cross the Lo La and expected an early start, but woke up to find 2" of fresh snow in camp. That really made no difference, but the coolies refused to move, so here we still are after a perfect clear sunny day. As there was nothing else to be done Ludlow, Tseringpen and I went up to the Pass to make a path, ordering a dozen men to follow and stamp it down. Deep snow lay just beyond camp and continued to the pass, but it was not very often that one went through. It only took us 3 hours to reach the top, and we are convinced the coolies could have gone up. I was shown the places P. Elizabethae, Omphalogramma minus and brachysiphon and some rhododendrons were - all under snow now. On our way back we dug down near the P. Elizabethae

SUMMARY:
Describes the route from the Lilung Chu camp to a camp up the Lo La Chu via fir forest, a cliff junction at Singo Samba, and difficult plank bridges, with boggy open areas suitable for camping. Notes several Primula species and other plants in the Lo La Chu valley, with seeds collected for some, and mentions Primula Roylei at about 11,000 ft not collected.

CONTENT:
19a

calderiana
Primula Roylei just in flower, common, 11,000 ft. (Not collected).

Camp in Lilung Chu to Camp up Lo La Chu. Keep to the L bank of the Lilung Chu, an easy path through fir forest, gradually opening out a little to m 3, where there is a big cliff on the R hand side of the path, where the valley from the Lo La enters the R. bank at a bearing of 307°. This is Singo Samba, no houses or cultivation. The Lilung (Langong) Chu turns a little W, coming from a bearing of 205°. The Lilung Chu is crossed by a very bad plank cantilever bridge a little above the junction, and the Lo La Chu is crossed just above too. Path climbs a good deal to start with, gradually easing off, keeping to the R. bank. About m 6 some open spaces are met and camp may be pitched in any of these, though they are rather boggy.

Primula prenantha common in Lo La Chu valley. } not in flower. SEED taken. No. S.H. /38.
" atrodentata .. .. .. .. .. }
" glabra just coming into flower.

Pedicularis sp. (12-15") SEED taken. S.H. /38
" sp (1-2") Bella? SEED taken S.H /38

Isopyrum sp. SEED taken S.H /38.

See July 1938.

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:
The author reviews Primula specimens and suggests several may be conspecific: P. morsheadiana with P. prenantha (referencing specimen no. 2396 from the Kashongla), P. littledalei with P. baileyana, and P. pulchella with P. pulchelloides. Habitat differences and high elevation are noted as likely causes of size variation.

CONTENT:
65a

PRIMULAS.

I have not seen all the collection together, but it appears that some species are not very good. Primula Morsheadiana seems to be the same as Prim. prenantha, if my No 2396(?) from the Kashongla is P. prenantha, as it was identified. Primula littledalei and P. Baileyana may be the same thing, and would appear to be so, if we have them both. One can certainly get these primulas from very different habitats: P. Baileyana from inside the drier zone, and P. littledalei from rock boulder scree. But the only difference in the two appears to be in their size, and that from rock boulder scree at 15000' would naturally be smaller than the one from the forest. Although we have not seen much of P. pulchella, what we have leads us to think that P. pulchella and P. pulchelloides may be the same plant.

SUMMARY:
Notes describe travel from Singo Samba along the left bank through fir forest, with crossings of the Lanyong Chu, open yak-grazing areas, and a camp on a slope. Botanical observations include several Primula species in Singo Samba and the Lanyong Chu Valley, with a query about a yellow form from east of Brumban, and mention of a route from Lanyong to an upper bridge.

CONTENT:
29a

From Singo Samba, continue up the L bank on aft bearing of 230° for 1 mile; river then bends again to 345°. Path up stream in fir forest, with a few clearings every now and then. Thin cliffs on the right hand side. Fit for yaks grazing.

2675 Continue up valley for 6 miles to pick hub, on L bank. Cross Lanyong Chu at m 1½, return at m 3. Valley has many open spaces, used by yaks as summer grazing ground. Camp on slope. Good. Line of valley approx 260° M.

3848. Primula prenantha. Singo Samba. Very common.

3849. Primula wattii. Lanyong Chu Valley. Growing in great quantity, covering whole swamps. Does the yellow form from E. of Brumban?

3850. Primula wessa. Lanyong Chu Valley. This again is not at all like the type 2514. It seems to be much more like P. nivalis, or like no 2189. (Nipa?). But it is not yet fully out.

3851. Primula hookeri. Lanyong Chu Valley. An odd plant. It was low, but on a valley bank, presumably brought down by the stream.

From Lanyong to upper bridge 10 miles, down L bank, the first four miles at the same bearing as

SUMMARY:
Notes describe following the Longte Chu to Longtepang and continuing toward Rukubzhi, with plant finds including Primula prenantha, Meconopsis villosa, and identification of Primula tenella. On 13th June, a 10-mile march to Phobsikha via Chele La is recorded, with rain, steep ascents and descents, and observations of Magnolia globosa and a small rhododendron.

CONTENT:
P. smithiana 3250 — See 20th July Yuto La.

...without a stop all day today. Found Primula prenantha today and Meconopsis villosa, but nothing else at all. Path follows down the Longte Chu for 3 1/2 miles to Longtepang, then continues on the main West to East route to Rukubzhi. The primula I have been wondering about, 3249 — is Primula tenella, one of the Obtusifolia section.

13th June. Phobsikha. 10 miles. Height 10,500' approx. Rained all night, but fine till 9:00 in the morning, then rain off and on all day. A tiring march up one pass, then down, and up another, then down here. Saw little but Magnolia globosa, which was common, No. 3253, and a small rhododendron, scarce. Path leaves Rukubzhi and climbs steeply up a ridge on the left bank of a nala at a bearing of 230° to the Chele La, the height of which is approximately the same as the Lausa La. From here a valley leads down to the village of Gufu, near Gangte Gompa at a bearing of 245°. This is followed down till the path comes out of the forest. Then turn South and follow up the next valley. The ascent is very steep, and the La is reached at mile 8. Thence the Phobsikha valley can be seen; the path is steep at first and then eases out of the forest, to camp at mile 11. Phobsikha is still a barren, windy...

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:
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.