Kingdon-Ward 1914 Burma expedition

This expedition is detailed in Kingdon-Ward’s book “In Farthest Burma”, Seeley,Service & Co. Ltd. London, 1921. The principle area covered is the divide between the ‘Nmai Hka river in Burma and Salween river in Yunnan, with the most time spent exploring the area around Hpimaw. Included is an appendix with a list of many of the collections made in 1914 and also a later expedition of 1919. Very few Primula species were seen on this expedition, but they included P. fragilis, P. coryphaea (now bella) and P. sciophila (now bella) which were then described as new. Kingdon-Ward thought that he had found P. beesiana below the Feng-Shui-Ling (pass), but this was later described as a new species, P. burmanica. Other species listed by Kingdon-Ward in his book are P. praticola (now taliensis), P. seclusa (now mollis), P. calliantha, P. involucrata, P. helodoxa, P. serratifolia, P. euosma, P. sonchifolia, P. limnoica (now denticulata), P. listeri and several undetermined species. The determinations on these might have changed since the book was published.

Primula burmanica

Kingdon-Ward's route in 1914 in Upper Burma

Last year, North Face and National Geographic sponsored an expedition to Myanmar (formerly Burma) with the goal of measuring the height of the mountains Hkakabo Razi and nearby Gamlang Razi to determine which was higher. The expedition is detailed in a blog, but more significant is the fact that access to the northern part of Myanmar is now possible though still difficult. Trips from Fort Hertz (now Putao) can be arranged. The most productive area of Kingdon-Ward's route was near Hpimaw Fort 26° 0'0.64"N, 98°38'0.47"E which is just over the border into Western Yunnan, China and possibly not open to foreigners. Of particular interest would be to find Primula densa (KW 3536) which was found on the Burma side, just south of Gaulam, and within 10kms north of Hpimaw. The type specimen of this species is very meager and though there are images of plants identified as this species from Arunachal Pradesh, images from the type location would be valuable. If you are planning a botanical trip to northern Myanmar, please contact the webmaster.