Part 119 - Rhododendron and primula collections; plans to proceed to Tsari

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SUMMARY:
Notes several rhododendron specimens (1385–1390) and a primula (P. whitei) collected around 12,500 ft, including a reference to an earlier Sanden Mera specimen. Danung will go higher tomorrow to search for more, and Tenduk found a yellow primula; a brief sighting of tragopan is mentioned. The party intends to move on toward Tsari soon.

CONTENT:
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big cluster of pale pink flowers, each on a long pedicel, a magenta patch at the base, 1385 (Rhod. hodgsonii): an almost equally big one, rather mauve pink when fully open, 1386 (Rhod. preptum): a beautiful deep crimson tree 1387 (Rhod. erosum), which looks like a barbatum series. The most delicate of the lot 1390 (Rhod. sherriffii), a bell shaped flower, with umbels of 3 or 4 flowers, of a very deep carmine colour (P. whitei). We also found the primula which had been found, withered, near here. It was still in full bloom at about 12500 ft, and turned out to be our old friend of Sanden Mera, No 1168. I collected it under No. 1388 (P. whitei).

Very likely there are more flowers higher up, and Danung will go up tomorrow to see what he can find.

I also saw, just a fleeting glimpse, what I think were tragopan, but could not get a shot at them.

There must be a good many about though, as I heard them calling. One could stay here quite a long time, but Tsari is our aim, so I think we should get on there as soon as possible now. Tenduk found the yellow sikkimensis primula again, just a few specimens of it.