SUMMARY:
Notes on abundant Primula geraniifolia and P. whitei in rhododendron and bamboo forest, distinguishing them from Boothii, and a route description from Cangke Gompa over Tigche La to Longkegang. Records include sighting and photographing a blood pheasant with chicks, a rainy halted day with mist, and only a few Rhod. glaucum seen while awaiting mail.
CONTENT:
on the north side of the Lao La ½ m from the pass. But we
only saw Primula geraniifolia, which we saw in masses. It was
very common, always in thick rhododendron & bamboo forest,
liking small stream banks rather damp steep banks. There is
a lot of P. whitei, but none in ripe seed yet. Both P. whitei
& Boothii have now huge leaves, big fat scapes. But they
can easily be distinguished by the shape of leaves, & the fact
that Boothii never has the winter bud. // From Cangke Gompa
a path leads up the Ridge to the north, towards a big cliff,
which it passes, keeping to the Right, at m 3. At m 4 the
Tigche La is reached. From here the descent is steep at
first, gradually easing, to m 7 where Longkegang is reached. //
I came across blood pheasant with newly hatched chicks, &
spent a long time looking for chipped eggs, but saw none. Took
some photos of the male bird.
4th June. Halt. Rained in night, was misty all morning, with
some rain. Clouds low on hills. We did another big circle, to the
west today, but saw nothing of interest, except a few more
bushes of Rhod. glaucum. I have been expecting a mail for
several days now, but there is no sign of one coming.
