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SUMMARY:
Field notes describe several Primula taxa, including a probable new species with bright golden flowers, habitat details around Lalung, and a reassessment of P. Normaniana. Records include a species list for Nyug La on April 26 and a bearing note from Nyug La to Lalung.

CONTENT: Lo La Chronologies of No. *

3648. Primula sp nov. Petiolaris sect. I think this may turn out to be a new species. It is a very pretty one when seen in mass, but single is not striking. It was growing in a typically compact mass, all rooted together. The colour is a strikingly bright golden. We only saw one patch, but a snow avalanche had come down beside it, a very likely more lurks under the snow yet. Probably only in flower for a short period, like P. vernicosa.

3649. Primula ? laciniata cortusoides sect. A most beautiful primula, with the exact habitat of P. Normaniana 3650, but with a much smaller altitude range, not growing nearly so high. It grows mixed up with 3650. In places covers the banks of small streams in masses. In the sunlight seems to keep its colour well. A much bigger flower than P. Normaniana, with a brighter eye, not quite so much pink in the flower. Strikingly beautiful. Also common N.W. of Lalung, at 8500 or so.

3650. Primula Normaniana. Ludlow got this in 1936, in flower near camp 24/4/38 under No. He reported it is a very poor primula indeed, not worth cultivating. But as seen now, it is a very beautiful one. The leaves apparently increase greatly in size later on, while the flowers do not. [Later on seen at Lalung 6700.]
X See also 3700. X

3671. Primula gracilipes Boothii. I suppose this to be P. Boothii, though the flowers are less pink than usual, perhaps due to age, the leaves appear to be narrower. Scapes still very short, hardly holding the flowers clear of the leaves.

3673. Primula aff tsariensis var. porrecta. This I at first took as a possible P. tsariensis var porrecta. But the latter was in full flower in about 22nd June 1936, whereas this is early Ap. 25th. Without my notes, I would say this is a stronger primula, a much redder in the scape, bracts (especially these) & calyx. The calyx is very large too. Huge clumps were seen higher up, 30 or more plants all closely rooted together. The colour is more purple than P. tsariensis or aff. tsariensis var porrecta. A magnificent sight when seen in mass close together. Only favours the South-west slopes in dense forest, not in open, as P. tsariensis.

Nyug La April 26.
arizelum 3674
R Grande 3663, (Sarcococca) 3664
Hookeri 3676
Lindleyi 3665, Xanthostephanum 3666, Lindleyi 3667, nite 3670
ramsdenianum 3677
P. gracilipes 3671. Tsariensis var porrecta 3673.
pand. 3680
Mag. Campbellii 3675

N.B. Bearing from Nyug La to Lalung = 120° M. " camp of 25th Ap is approx 300° M.

SUMMARY:
The party delayed departure to meet HH, discussing a Treaty, M.K., and reports from Tobgye that the Sikkim Maharani had stirred Nepalis of Sikkim to oppose the Maharaja; they later dined and played games with HH and two Maharanis. They set off around 10:00 on a short, steep march behind Kunga Rapden, noting cultivation, forest edge and grassland, and several rhododendrons including R. arboreum, R. grande, and epiphytes such as R. edgeworthii and R. rhabdotum.

CONTENT:
9th April. Zangrapang. 5 miles. BP. 195.9° T. 61° 5.0pm. Ht. app. 9150'

This was a very short march, but we felt we could not leave HH until a time more suitable to royalty than our usual 6.0 am. So I said we would go when he was ready, that was 9.30. We had had a long & pleasant session with HH & on 8th. He came up again at 3.0pm & we had dinner at 7.0 & he left at 8.0. I talked to him again about the Treaty, & more about M.K. & the danger of getting mixed up with the intriguing of the Sikkim Maharani. He was aware of the danger there, more so because he had just heard from Tobgye that the Sikkim Maharani had induced the Nepalis of Sikkim & some others to go to the Palace to say they did not want the Maharaja, but wanted Indian Raj. This naturally made HH think very much. We later on had games with the two Maharanis & HH, & the greatest success was animal snaps, which so amused HH that we had to stop for fear he would do himself some harm through over laughing.

Today HH came up again to say goodbye, at 9.30, & we were off at 10.0. He was the same pleasant friendly & thoughtful man as always, & had thought out everything for us & our comfort on the road. The road was pretty steep, straight up behind Kunga Rapden, to the east. There is now a good deal of cultivation for about 2000' up, then the path goes along the edge of the forest, to a large area of grass. Round about here there were a number of rhodos. Rhod. arboreum is common, as is R. grande (18660) & some epiphytes like R. Edgeworthii, & rhabdotum,