Showing 3 results

SUMMARY:
Observations include mass flowering of Primula whitei around 14,000 ft and a pale yellow Sikkimensis-type primula likely from hybridisation. On 10 June the party halted, marked several Primula populations, recorded Primula vernicosa as a notable westward occurrence, kept busy drying specimens, and planned to return to Phobjikha via the Pele La Range towards Chendebi while collecting a few Rhododendron variants.

CONTENT:
P. flagellaris 3231.
Lloydia serotina 3232 Cypripedium tibeticum 3233

It has up to 4 flowers on a scape of 3" on pedicels of 3/4". At about 14000 or a little over P. whitei was in flower in masses still, & the flowers were on the whole bigger than low altitude, early ones. Among a mass of P. Hopeana 3227, I saw a few plants of a Sikkimensis primula coloured pale yellow, tinged with pink 3228. This presumably is the result of hybridisation. We have so far seen no P. sikkimensis, nor of P. Waltoni.

10th June. Halt. - Rained most of the night, but fine & overcast nearly all today. I have marked with 12 stakes the new little petiolaris primula 3192, & today marked the var. of P. Griffithii 3205 & P. umbratilis 3213. We came across P. vernicosa today, No 3240.

As far as I know this has never been recorded from nearly so far west as this; in fact I don't think it is recorded as occurring outside SE Tibet. It is no beauty, but interesting. We all took it easy today after a climb to the top of the ridge. We got back by 11.30 & stayed in camp. Tsongpen has little rest though, as flowers will not dry in this humid atmosphere, & he has about 200 still being changed. A few variations in Rhododendron completed the bag. We now move on back to Phobjikha, but will go a new route over the Pele La Range towards Chendebi.

Rhod. fulgens 3239. R. campanulatum 3243, R. campan. var. aeruginosum 3244

SUMMARY:
Entries describe travel from Mera over the Nyuhsang La to Rungzyung, with rhododendron and Primula collections, mist and patchy snow at higher elevations, and assistance from Puntso Dzongpen. The following day the route continues over the Choling La, with further specimens gathered and mention of Tanduk and Ahmad Shah encountering trouble securing coolies at Sakden.

CONTENT:
month. The Rhododendron Society's Rhododendron book says "Capsule unknown", but K.W. has collected seed before now. However I have taken two specimens (each duplicate) of the capsules.

15th November. Mera. 13000'(?) 10m(?). Rained a good deal in the night, was cloudy all day. I left at 7.0 before coolies had turned up.
Collected a few rhododendrons on the way up to the Nyuhsang La (R. cauliferum 2861, 2862; R. campanulatum 2860; R. sp. 2859; R. tsariense 2858; R. micromeres 2857; R. sp. 2856 & 2855). Also another specimen of 1173 P. boothii from about 13500'. Genl.
Anemone was still in flower, but no ripe seeds were seen. There was a fair amount of old snow in patches on the Nyuhsang La, on the path on the Mera side. Puntso Dzongpen came with me, the kit being sent down direct to Rungzyung. We got in at 3.0 pm. Fine all the way, but thick mist from 13000' on the pass. Puntso cooked my dinner — Oxo & curry, perfectly well, & stayed in the Dzongpen's house there.

16th November. Rungzyung 14 m.? 4500? Left at 6.30, in at 2.30 pm, over the Choling La (Whitei 2864 on Choling La). Fine all day, but cloudy & some rain & snow on the hills, no news. Collected specimens of 1166 & 1167 again (P. whitei & P. paucispinosa), both for dry specimens & to send home alive. I find Tanduk & Ahmad Shah had a great deal of trouble with coolies. None turned up at Sakden & Tanduk only got off at dusk.

SUMMARY:
The diarist describes Dungshinggang (the Black Mountain), explains the local meaning of its name, notes a nearby shrine to a mountain god, and records bird sightings. On 20th May they travelled about 3½ miles to Gnüdulakh on the north side of Dungshinggang, with clearing weather, views of the Punsum peaks, photographs, and a bearing taken from camp at Wangchelakh.

CONTENT:
R. Campanulatum 3081 R. anthopogon 3082 35

Hookeri is thicker here in camp than anywhere I have seen it except at Tsari. The name of the Black Mountain is Dungshinggang. The meaning according to Punso is the Dungshing = Abies, fir and Gang = Range. The locals say there is a god of the mountain, called Dungshing. Just over a ridge from camp here is the place this god is supposed to be, and the locals have built a small house for him there. They go to worship there often. A few Brahminy Duck came down here, and I saw quite a number of Grandala coelicolor. Some blood pheasant seen in the distance.

20th May Gnüdulakh 3 1/2 miles. BP. 190.2' Temp. 44 Time 2.0pm. Hr.
(North side of Dungshinggang)

Rained, blew and misted nearly all the night, but was fine by 4.30 though the clouds were low. By 5.30 they were clearing, and at 6.0am the whole sky was clear and the Punsum or "three brothers" peaks of Dungshinggang were showing up well. I took several photos before they were clear and more afterwards. The bearing from camp at Wangchelakh to the left hand peak was 165° Mag. They say that is the highest of the three, though there does not seem to be much in it. All three are pretty deep in snow. The path follows the little nala down, keeping to the left bank, almost due South, then at m 1 turns East (always due E) and