Showing 9 results

SUMMARY:
The diarist collects several flowering trees, rhododendrons, and a primula (including Nos. 2989, 2987, and 2984 P. bracteosa). Bearings are taken near the Black Mt. while marching along a steep ridge with no water, and camp is pitched on a slope in thick bamboo jungle where rainfall is estimated at 200 inches.

CONTENT:
flowered trees, up here most of them are pink or even red. I collected one under No 2989. Then a red small rhodo, finally a very fine bright slightly purplish pink one, which shows up very well indeed. No. 2987

A few other flowers, oxalis etc., some primula, which unfortunately has lost all its flowers. It is a petiolarid, but not Boothii or Whitei (No. 2984 P. bracteosa).

A bearing from one of the peaks of the Black Mt. from very close to camp gave 335° Mag. & we have, I think, been marching roughly at 300° M. up the ridge. Path is fairly level for a short way, then very steep ascent, again becoming more level along a sharp ridge. Finally the last mile is up a very steep ascent. No water all day, none in camp, which is pitched on a slope among thick bamboo jungle. I'm glad I am not a coolie these marches. It's not much fun going as I do with only a 10-15 lb rucksack, but to carry 65 lbs or more with no water at the end of the day isn't much fun. Rainfall here must be at the least 200 inches, but we have

SUMMARY:
The writer moved camp to a site below Mera to avoid wind and dust, noting bearings for the Cholin La, Sirkim La, and the course of the Mera Chu. On 11 March at Trongsa, the writer and Tenduk searched the hills for flowers, finding Primula whitei common but most other plants not in flower, and noted impressive forests including Abies and Juniperus.

CONTENT:
up there, I moved down to a camp about 4 miles below
Mera, there the wind is not so bad, & there is no
dust. But I fear I won't get much even here. The only
sign of plants were Meconopsis (Meconopsis paniculata 1171,
Meconopsis nepalensis 1172) which of course is not
in flower. This was seen in several places. Blue Primula
(Primula whitei) or a little Gentian. As far as I can see, the Mera valley
here runs pretty well E & W, giving a bearing from Mera to
the Cholin La of about 280. The Sirkim La is one mile
off the road at a bearing of 170°. Mera Chu comes from
about 140° M heading 1 m above Mera, & again to the South
about 1 mile W of the Cholin La.

11th March. Halt. Trongsa, Tenduk & I spent from 6:30 till 2 pm
looking all over the hills for flowers. But we failed to find
any flowers at all, barring Primula 1166 (Primula whitei 1166), which is everywhere
where the moss is damp. I even saw it coming into flower
through the snow in places. The locals say it comes into
seed in the Bhutanese 9th month, but that seems too late
for this flower. Another Meconopsis (Meconopsis nepalensis 1172) was seen, not in
flower. The trees here are magnificent. Besides larch, rhododendron
& birch there are whole hillsides of Abies (spectabilis webbiana?) 1174
(Abies spectabilis 1174) & Juniperus recurva 1175.

SUMMARY:
The diarist descends through an Abies forest after passing a small flat, noting masses of Primula roylei in clearings and Primula whitei in damp forest, with several rhododendrons including a pale mauve form. After brief rain the weather clears, and plans are made to attempt reaching the holy lakes the next day, though climbing peaks is deemed impossible.

CONTENT:
A small open flat is passed at 1 1/2. Then the forest of Abies is entered and the path wanders down this by an easy descent to m 3, where a valley enters from the south. A little beyond this is a clearing where a small camp can be made.

Several rhododendrons were seen on the way down, but most were not in full bloom yet. Primula roylei is in masses wherever there is a clearing, while damp spots in the forest have Primula whitei growing to perfection, dotted about all over the place, on mossy slopes. Rain started at 1:00 pm. There are no built-up shelters beyond yesterday's camp. The coolies hoped I might stay there for a day. They can reach the holy lakes in one day from there, and back, with difficulty, starting about 3:00 or 4:00 am. We will go up tomorrow if the weather is good and see how far we can get, but any hope of climbing the peaks is out of the question.

The prettiest rhododendrons today were Rhododendron fulgens (?) 3090 and a pale mauve one 3087 which looks very pretty indeed when fully out, as I saw it in a side valley below us. The rain did not last for long and now it is again clear at 4:30 pm. I do hope we have a good day tomorrow to see the lakes, though I hardly expect to find many flowers.

SUMMARY:
Tsangpo returned with 41 specimens, including notable rhododendrons from near Mandi and Trulung. The diarist reports continuous rain and late snow while moving through Dau, Lunang, and Latsa, with limited flowering observed except some primulas and rhododendrons in bud. Observations include weather severity and early-season phenology such as P. calderiana, P. whitei, P. atrodentata, and Mec. betonicifolia.

CONTENT:
neither one thing nor the other. Tsangpo came back on 8th, with 41 specimens, showing that down there there is now very much more than here. The big Maddenii Series Rhododendron from Trulung is still not out, but he got two good ones — one yellow from just below Mandi (12348) which is new to us, and may be interesting. The other, in two forms (12354, 12370) of which we got some seed in Feb. It must be a beautiful thing. The former is slightly pink, the latter pure white. They are probably the same, though leaf shape and size of plant are rather different as well.

10th April. A filthy day of rain all day long without a pause, and it looks like going on for a good while.

11th April. Dau. Another even worse day. It has now rained continuously for two days and 3 nights which is a lot for this time of year. Snow lay low to around 1000' this morning, and had been lying a good deal below Dau. After 3.0pm here it was very heavy — half snow half rain. Rhododendrons fairly good. R. virgatum series was really lovely. No 12375 is a fine tree too. We only saw one R. triflorum in flower — a miserable thing. There are a great many P. chungensis just in bud now, all along the road, which should soon be very fine indeed.

12th April. Lunang. There was 1" of snow last night in camp, but it did not snow very much with us. In the narrow valley 2 m below Lunang the going was difficult, as there were 9-10" of fresh snow, and up here when we arrived, about 5". Locals don't seem surprised at the snow, but it surprises me, as I would not have expected that on the main Himalayan Range in mid April. Owing to deep snow we saw no flowers — if there were any to see. In some clearings, I did see P. calderiana in bud showing colour. There were too P. whitei and P. atrodentata occasionally visible where snow had melted. Leaves of Mec. betonicifolia also seen.

13th April. Latsa. We are still too early for flowers here. P. calderiana is still in bud. Mec. betonicifolia very common indeed, but only 2-4" high in leaf. P. atrodentata is the only flower seen. No Rhodos. in flower yet.

SUMMARY:
Notes compare Primula gracilipes var. (No. 3206) with P. Boothii and P. whitei across altitudes and relate it to a prior specimen from Nyuksam La in March 1936. Also assesses No. 3228 as P. sikkimensis (alpine form) or P. Hopeana, noting pale yellow flowers with reddish suffusion, possible hybridization, absence of P. Waltoni nearby, and a pink form seen on the Tulung La in 1934.

CONTENT:
flower approximates much closer to P. sikkimensis than our collection in Tsari.

No. 3206. Primula gracilipes var. The normal P. Boothii grows at 7000-9000 ft. It is now over seed, and has grown to a huge size. Above that there is usually a space, then P. whitei takes its place. P. whitei, except at 14000' is now just coming into ripe seed. At 14000 it is still just in flower. No 3206 starts at about 12000 - goes on to 14000 ft. It is still in flower at 13-14000. No seed of this high variety is nearly ripe yet. I doubt if it will grow as big a scape as the low variety, or as big leaves, though this looks more possible. (See if it grows the leaves in the umbel as does P. Boothii). No 3206 must be the same as my No 1178 from the Nyuksam La in March 1936.

No. 3228. P. sikkimensis (alpine form) or P. Hopeana? This is pale yellow in colour, appears otherwise the same as 3227 P Hopeana. The corolla is suffused with a reddish tinge. Perhaps this is due to hybridization. No P. Waltoni known to be near. I got a very definite pink form on the Tulung La in 1934.

SUMMARY:
Notes on Kodachrome 17 images and specimens of Primula (notably P. whitei and P. atrodentata) from valleys near Pangotang and Tongkyuk. Film rolls were sent to Tsela Dzong, and seed lots were consigned to Ludlow and Elliot.

CONTENT:
Kodachrome 17

1. Quince No. 12271
2. • close up.
3. Yellowishness No. 12257. close up.
4. P. whitei. 16/3.
   5 & 6. P. whitei. No. 12299. P. whitei with P. bhutanica (same plant). 18/3.
5. No. 12257 with peach.

Primula whitei. No. 12291. Answers well to the key for Petiolaris. Plentiful in valley S. of Pangotang. Must be the same as specimens found in Rong Chu valley, Tongkyuk & Soshu ha. Nos. 12021, 12040, 12052.

P. whitei. No. 12297. Same as No. 12040.

P. atrodentata No. 12295. Tongkyuk Dz.

Kodachrome film (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17) sent in 2 parcels to Tsela Dzong on 20th March.

Tongkyuk Dzong.
Seeds 8000 to Ludlow.

• 6200 to Elliot.
• 9200 to

SUMMARY:
The writer describes an evening clearing with views of surrounding hills, noting Primula whitei as common and blackbirds singing. The following march goes about 7 miles toward Wangchelakh on a bearing of 115°M, crossing Gogum La and later Laptsakap La at around 13,500 ft, with dwarf rhododendrons near the latter.

CONTENT:
this way for 3 or 4 months. Snow falls in the Bhutanese 8th month. Primula whitei is as usual very common up here & in the forest on the way up.

6.0 pm. Just before sunset, it suddenly cleared up into a perfect evening, and gave a lovely view of the hills we are going to. They look perfect for flowers, even if there won't be much now. The bearing to the pass we cross tomorrow is 115° M from here & from the pass we crossed today. Dungshijon lies more to the South than 115, but we cannot see it. This place in July on a good day must be perfectly lovely. All the valleys round about are cloud filled, while we are open to the blue sky, & the atmosphere is perfect. It misted up till after 5.0 pm. The blackbirds (albocinctus) are very numerous, & are singing away, just as the real blackbird does at home now.

18th May. To Wangchelakh. 7 miles. B.P. 187.8° Temp. 46° Time 2.0 pm. Ht. 13500 ft.

Path goes along an approximate bearing of 115° M. It keeps South of the ridge for the first three miles, getting closer & closer till the Gogum La is crossed. Then it winds about on the north side, up & down, climbing up gradually to mile 6, where the Laptsakap La is crossed. Here there are only dwarf rhododendrons.

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:
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.