Part 139 - Route from Maruthang via Rinchen Chu with botanical notes

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SUMMARY:
Describes the route along the left bank of the Rinchen Chu from Maruthang, including forest entry, stream crossings, grazing areas, and wet weather conditions. Notes that Primula involucrata and P. sikkimensis flourish, and records collecting a distinctive lemon-colored primula possibly a variety of sikkimensis.

CONTENT:
seems to prefer cliff ledges, and are really best seen from below, as
only then does one see the colour inside. The majority
have 1 flower, a great many two, while some are three and
four flowered. Flies again very bad here, but there are
practically no dimdams now.

11800 ft 2nd June. Maruthang to via Rinchen. 10 miles. BP. 191.1° Temp. 65° Time 1.30pm. Ht. 12,400

Path keeps up the left bank of the Rinchen Chu, entering forest
very soon. It is very bad, at any rate in the monsoon, but
the ascent is easy. At m 5 two nalas meet. The more westerly
leads up over a pass to the Tang Chu, the northerly one is
followed. At m 8 a small clearing with a few temporary
huts is reached, at m 9 the main stream is crossed to the
R bank. At m 10 the valley opens out a little & there is
good grazing. Its yaks are brought here later. Hills to the
west very precipitous. CG quite good but damp. Very wet
last night: reasonably fine today till about 4.0 pm, then very
heavy rain. Here only P. involucrata & Sikkimensis flourish.
I took a primula today which may be a var of sikkimensis,
very lemon coloured, with leaves quite unlike the ordinary
Sikkimensis, (3353). The only other thing of interest, was a very