Two Primulas from Everest Epedition of 1921

In 1921, the British Mount Everest reconnaissance expedition set off to explore possible routes up Everest. Since Nepal was closed to foreigners at the time, the expedition approached through Sikkim, into Tibet's Chumbi valley, then west to Tingri Dzong (north of Everest), which they used as a base. From here members explored south for routes up Everest including the Rongbuk valley, and Nangpa La. The expedition naturalist, A. F. Wollaston (image above, standing, at left) collected flora and fauna specimens which included two new Primulas; Primula buryana named for one of the expedition members, C. K. Howard-Bury, and Primula wollastonii named for himself. The route he travelled was a loop to the west of Mount Everest, first to Nyenyam (Nyalam) and then through Lapche to the Rongshar valley.

Primula wollastonii

In Howard-Bury's book "Mount Everest the reconnaissance, 1921" on page 298, Wollaston wrote about this side-trip and provided notes on the Natural History of the area. He writes of the discovery of the two Primulas;
"Crossing a pass to the East of Nyenyam, we camped on a level spot covered densely with white primulas (P. buryana) six to eight inches high; and inch or two of snow fell during the night, and so white are these flowers that it was difficult to see them against the snow. Near the top of another pass we found at about the same altitude, 15,000 feet, another primula (P. wollastonii) with three to six bells on each stem, the size of a small thimble, of a deep blue color, and lined inside with frosted silver."

Primula buryana

Using Wollaston's diary (Letters and Diaries of A.F.R. Wollaston) for July 20 (Nyenyam) to July 25, and a map of the expedition (Preliminary Map to illustrate the route of the Mount Everest Expedition 1921) plus more modern maps (NH 45-14 Tingri Dzong), it is possible to find the type locations for these two Primulas. The Tibet Handbook, page 263 describes the route in detail between Lapche and Trintang which where the Primulas were found. Wollaston incorrectly refers to Trintang as Rongshar. The route starts at Lapche (28° 6'56.56"N 86°10'17.96"E), heading NE up the main valley for about 6kms before turning into a side valley going to the SE. Wollaston camped at 15,200ft up this valley where he found Primula buryana. The next day he crossed the Kangchung La (28° 5'35.55"N 86°14'28.97"E) descending into an area of broken up glacier covered in moraine before going over the Kanchen La (28° 4'32.97"N 86°15'9.07"E), where he found Primula wollastonii, eventually crossing "two steep spurs" which are named Oodungpa La and Sobje La and are separated by a small lake. The route then descends directly down to Trintang.


Map of area Lapche-Trintang

The type for P. wollastonii is in Kew K000750421, with a syntype on the same sheet and the type herbarium sheet for P. buryana is also in Kew K000750442. Both are species in section Soldanelloides, which are high alpine species, with bell shaped flowers and pubescent leaves.

Primula buryana var. purpurea

A purple variety of P. buryana was discovered at Michet, Nepal by Sharma July 9, 1932 (#E345a). The collection can be seen at BM BM000521890 or at E E00024733. It Is possible that this represents a distinct species. 
 

Pam Eveleigh © 2018

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Primula sachalinensis

Primula sachalinensis: 

The island Sakhalin lies just north of Japan's Hokkaido and east of mainland Russia. Historically, it has been claimed by both Russia and Japan. For the period of 1905 to 1945, the island was split, with Japan holding the southern portion, and calling it Karafuto. It was during this time, in 1932, that Primula sachalinensis was described¹ by the Japanese botanist Takenoshin Nakai. He cited the type location as "Sachalin: in humidis secus Bakenuma, Hoyankei" and he named M. Gozeki as the collector. Presumably the type sheet resides in TI (Tokoyo) but it isn't online. However a sheet with a part of the type specimen is available at E (Edinburgh) mounted with a second gathering collected 2 weeks later.

Primula sachalinensis at Magunant mud volcano

It is difficult to find "Bakenuma, Hoyankei" on a map since Russia now has control over Sakhalin and Russian names are used. However it is generally accepted that this refers to the Magunant mud volcano, in the Pugachevskie volcano group, at 48°13'41.00"N 142°34'0.00"E. The name "Hoyankei" seems to match "Hoyori village" in the old Japanese Shikuka Subprefecture.

A white form growing at Magunant mud volcano

In 1996, Y. Lee described Primula sachalinensis f. albida, without a type designated. In the same reference, Lee also include an image of a white flowered Primula which he labelled this species, and which was photographed on "백두산" which is Mount Baekdu, now called Paektu located at 42° 0'8.81"N 128° 3'29.81"E on the Korea - China border. As per the discussion following, plants on Mount Paektu are not Primula sachalinensis.

Primula sachalinensis has been considered a variation of Primula farinosa and certainly it is close, but the base of the bracts are gibbose. Regular Primula farinosa does not grow on Sakhalin and Bukhteeva³ noted that these plants growing on freshly ejected mud substrate differed from normal Primula farinosa to such an extent that the classification of Primula sachalinensis as a distinct species, endemic to Sakhalin, was justified. Kovtonyuk⁴ included Primula sachalinensis in a genetic study and confirmed it was distinct and more closely related to Primula mistassinica, Primula modesta and Primula incana.

¹ Original description on page 61 within the PDF of Bot. Mag. (Tokyo) 1932, xlvi.
² Original description Fl. Korea (Lee) 1159, without type. 1996.
³ Bukhteeva, A.V., Primula sachalinensis Nakai, the Primula species of the Maguntan volcano, Bot. Zh., 1960, vol. 45, no. 5, pp 746-748.
⁴ Kovtonyuk, N.K. and Goncharov, A.A., Phylogenetic relationships in the Genus Primula L. (Primulaceae) inferred from the ITS region sequences of nuclear rDNA, Russ. J. Genet., 2009, vol. 45, no. 6, pp. 663-670.

Pam Eveleigh © 2018

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The Mysterious Primula of Omta Tso (Bhutan)

Omta Tso, Bhutan

In November, 2016, I visited the herbarium at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh to study non-type herbarium sheets which are unavailable online. One of the species I wanted to investigate is Primula tsariensis which was described from a collection made in 1936 by Ludlow & Sherriff in the Tsari valley, SE Tibet  28°41'29.98"N 93°23'57.85"E.

It was initially compared with Primula griffithii and P. tanneri but it was distinguished by leaves which are rounded at the apex, bluntly crenulate at the margin and a calyx which is sparsely farinose and glandular. The flowers are described as rich purple.

Primula tsariensis

Going through the herbarium specimens, I came across a folder labelled "P. tsariensis yellow form". What is that?!! All of the collections of this form were Ludlow & Sherriff's from the area near Omta Tso  27°42'54.88"N 90°17'17.96"E in the upper Richen Chu valley, Bhutan. In 1937, Sherriff explored this place and so I traced his 1937 route using his diary and field notes. Sherriff mixed up the names of the two lakes Omta Tso and Thita Tso, so his initial collection #3383 is from the hillsides and shores of Omta Tso (not Thita Tso as stated in his notes). Sherriff gave it the name "Primula strumosa var. nana floribus maximus". Later, W.W. Smith & Fletcher gave it the name "Primula strumosa var. perlata" and in the Flora of Bhutan it is included by that name as a synonym under P. tsariensis. In the genus Primula, there are a number of species which have both purple and yellow forms, so the idea of a yellow P. tsariensis is acceptable.

Primula species of Omta Tso, Bhutan

Continuing to trace Sherriff's 1937 route, I found that he took a two day side trip (July 13-14) from Omta Tso, westwards along the ridge to Chore (I don't have an exact location for Chore, but it would seem to be a yak herder hut at the base of a cliff SW of Omta Tso) and then followed the main ridge south until descending to Maruthang via a steep gully. Sherriff said "I have never seen so many alpines out together as on this march. In places the hillsides and cliffs were just covered with them and the variety was great."

Omta Tso area, Sherriff 1937 - hybrids found along the orange route

Between Omta Tso and Chore, Sherriff came across a little grassy hollow 50 ft. x 50 ft. where there was a swarm of primulas of at least eight shades of colors including yellow, white, purple and blue. These same colors are seen in hybrids where P. calderiana crosses with P. strumosa. Essentially P. strumosa and P. calderiana are yellow and purple forms of the same species, though they have different geographical areas and P. strumosa grows at higher elevations.

Color variations of P. calderiana X P. strumosa

Sherriff knew these were hybrids but couldn't decide which species were the parents. To further complicate matters, Sherriff also found that the yellow, white and blue-purple flowered plants grew in separate masses of one color only. However, the white masses included a few variations of yellow tinged, or blue tinged plants. Sherriff collected what he said was true P. calderiana (L&S 3437) and that it was distinct from the others and not involved in the hybrids. In the field notes, someone (perhaps W.W. Smith) later wrote in the margin "I believe these are normal hybrids of P. calderiana and P. strumosa" and included a reference to hybrid L&S collections from Weitang and Pangotang (Tsampa), Bhutan in 1949, which are unfortunately I haven't seen.

So are the plants at Omta Tso P. tsariensis or are they P. strumosa?

The most obvious differences between the two species are that P. calderiana / P. strumosa smells "disagreeable", and has farina present on the bud scales, and on the upper scape, calyx and pedicels whereas P. tsariensis is not noted for its smell, has efarinose bud scales and only trace amounts of farina on the pedicels and calyx.

Bud scales - (L) no farina, P. tsarieneis, (R) with farina, P. strumosa

Sherriff was limited in his ability to document these plants but certainly more images can shed light on this problem. If you travel to this area and encounter these plants, please take lots of images of the flower color variations, showing the calyx, the basal bud scales, and leaves. And take a sniff!

Pam Eveleigh © 2017

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The Black Mountain (Bhutan) - Primulas and Problems

Jigme Singye Wangchuck National Park covers 1,730 sq kms in south-central Bhutan and contained within the park is Durshingla, the Black Mountain. (JSWNP Facebook page)

Durshingla © Darlo Letro

In 1915, Roland Edgar Cooper made the first botanical expedition to Durshingla, which he called Joedawnchi. From Cooper's 1914 and 1915 Bhutan expeditions, 19 species of Primula were described though only six are now considered to be distinct species: P. chasmophila, P. eburnea, P. erythrocarpa, P. strumosa, P. umbratilis and P. xanthopa. He wrote about those trips and specifically about the Primulas he found in Notes of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, Vol.18, Nov. 1933.

Ludlow and Sherriff (L&S) visited Bhutan several times and Sherriff's 1937 expedition was specifically to Durshingla which he called Dungshinggang. He found no new Primula species there but he was able to recollect known species.


Sherriff's route up Durshingla in 1937

Both expeditions used a route from Chendebi, travelling west over the Lamse La into the Phobjikha valley. From there they ascended the ridge over the Byasu La to Chapepusa and then followed the ridge east until it met the main N-S ridge leading to the peak.

Primulas & Problems

1. The most interesting species found on Durshingla is Primula chasmophila and, so far, it is only found on this mountain. Cooper first discovered it in September and his herbarium specimen was sparse, so it was described from cultivated plants grown from seed. Sherriff collected it on the mountain ridge near the Nabzi La. Though it was scarcely in flower, he noted its deep, rich blue violet color, red eye and its cliff ledge habitat and compared it with Primula umbratilis, a much more widespread species that is also found on the mountain (Cooper 4822). What to photograph if you see this species? Variations in flower color, details of the hairs on the flower scape, leaf study.

Primula chasmophila L&S 3301,
courtesy Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh

2. The type of Primula hopeana was collected by Cooper on Durshingla, in September, so the plants were in seed. In the description it was noted that sometimes the tube of the flower was "pink", which was seen by Sherriff on the mountain and is seen in populations in Arunachal Pradesh. This species resembles Primula sikkimensis and is sometimes considered a variety of it. Species in the Sikkimensis Section hybridize in the wild and it is very difficult to sort some populations into species. Sherriff noted that he saw true (yellow) sikkimensis here also, so I would expect some hybridizing. What to photograph if you see this species? Leaf study with the corresponding flower color and flower shape. Variations in flower color (don't forget to also show the flower face).

Primula hopeana

3. On the ridge to the NW of the Lamse La and also on the lower ridge of Durshingla Sherriff found a plant he thought was Primula strumosa but was later found to be Primula elongata. Primula elongata, P. barnardoana, P. sikkimensis and P. strumosa are all yellow flowered, so you must look to other characteristics to distinguish between these species. In Bhutan two variations of P. elongata occur, having slightly different leaves. What to photograph if you see this species? The most important image is a leaf study! The flower tube is also important to determine this species (side of the flower).

Primula elongata

4. On the high hills and passes surrounding the Pobsikha valley and lower on the ridge of Durshingla grows Primula whitei. The type location for this species is the nearby Pele La. This is another problem species as it is close to or the same as Primula bhutanica. See this blog post for details. What to photograph if you see this species? Any population of P. whitei should be checked to see if plants have any characteristics of P. bhutanica in particular the calyx (side of the flower). A leaf study, especially of the older leaves, would be useful.

Characteristics of P. bhutanica. Can you find plants like these in a population of P. whitei?

5. Another species in the Petiolares section was found growing in this area (Lamse la, Lao La). It caused Sherriff a lot of confusion as he thought it might be P. boothii, but it was later identified as Primula bracteosa. The Flora of Bhutan has P. boothii as a synonym of P. bracteosa, but there is a distinction between the two in that P. bracteosa develops leafy bracts among the inflorescence as it goes into fruit. In flower, the two species are indistinguishable though it is said that P. boothii does not have farina and has a slightly different calyx. What to photograph if you see this species? It is best if the same plants can be visited in flower and in fruit. The calyx detail and any farina should be photographed. A leaf study of the plants in flower and in fruit, including the later leaves in the inflorescence is necessary.

Primula bracteosa,
courtesy Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh

6. The first Primula encountered by Sherriff on the way to Durshingla was Primula flagellaris, which he found within a mile of Chendebi, on the right side just before cliffs, on the way to the Lamse La. This has been a problem species because it has also been considered a variety of Primula tenella. The distinctions between P. tenella and P. flagellaris are in the flower size and color, number of flowers per scape (1 or 2), presence or absence of bracts and presence or absence of stolons. I believe the species described in 2004 as Primula rebeccae is a synonym of Primula tenella. What to photograph if you see this species? Both a flower study to show size and color variation and a leaf study (both surfaces) with measurements would be helpful. Images of the stolons (runners) and the new plantlets that form on the ends of the stolons. Flower stalks should be checked for bracts (which look like a tiny leaf) and photographed if found. Sherriff believed there was an altitudinal difference between the two species, with P. flagellaris at a lower altitude than P. tenella. It would be exciting if P. tenella was found at higher elevations on Durshingla.

Primula tenella usually has 1 flower and a bract.

If you are at Chendebi, look for a small species on the near by hills (SW) for Primula erythrocarpa which looks like P. atrodentata or a small P. denticulata. Check for basal scales under the leaves and show the hairs on the leaves.

Other Primula species found on Durshingla: P. atrodentata, P. munroi, P. calderiana, P. megalocarpa, P. waddelli, P. bellidifolia, P. obliqua, and P. glabra.

I am uncertain of the exact location of Nabzi La on Durshingla. If you have the GPS coordinates for it or a GPS track for the route up the ridge, please contact Pam. If you are interested in more details of these species or locations, or if you have images of these species, please contact Pam.

A video of Foresters in Bhutan https://leythro-darlo.blogspot.ca/2017/02/conservation-journey-video.html

Pam Eveleigh © 2017

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Spring is here, almost (Primula denticulata)

This blog post was originally written over 3 years ago! Though it is now late in 2020, and the pandemic is still with us, looking ahead we can hope that life returns to normal soon. Primula denticulata is surely a wonderful symbol of that hope.

One of the most photographed Primula in the wild is the showy and locally abundant species, Primula denticulata. It is distributed across the Himalaya from Afghanistan through to Sichuan, but it was first collected in Nepal. It was described in 1805 by James Edward Smith and the original description includes a painting. The type specimen LINN-HS 271.2.2  (Herb Smith) was collected by Dr. Buchanan and resides at the Linnean Society. The type location is "the moist parts of the hills about Chitlong in Nepal, flowering from February to April". Buchanan's journey is detailed in "An Account of the Kingdom of Nepal", written in 1819. Chitlong (27°38'59.27"N 85°10'12.17"E) is very near to Kathmandu, though overlooked by plant enthusiasts as they head for more popular trekking areas.

Primula denticulata color forms

 

 This species varies across its distribution and authorities have disagreed on the distinctions, creating numerous species which have since been lumped into P. denticulata including P. adenophora, P. aequalis, P. alta, P. cyanocephala, P. harsukhii, P. hoffmeisteri, P. limnoica, P. paucifolia, P. platycrana, P. sinodenticulata, and P. telemachica. A one time even P. capitata and P. erosa were thought to be synonymous. Primula cachemiriana, described from cultivated plants, persists as a name given to plants covered with dense yellow farina. Adding to the confusion are dwarf states which resemble P. atrodentata but can be distinguished by the presence of persistent basal bud scales which were once part of the winter resting bud. 

P. denticulata basal scales flatten to reveal true leaves and flower buds

  Many garden selections have been made. The compact flower heads are composed of numerous erect flowers in shades of purple, pinkish-purple, reddish-purple or white. It is winter hardy in my garden in Calgary, Canada though it does resent water around the resting bud in winter. It is easily grown from seed, which is produced in copious amounts and can be vegetatively propagated by splitting crowns or by root cuttings.


Masses of plants in Bhutan

 

Pam Eveleigh © 2020

 

 

 

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Primula pulchra - Hide and Seek with P. gambleana

In 1882, An article was published in the Journal of the Linnean Society titled "On some Undescribed and Imperfectly known Indian Species of Primula and Androsace" by George Watt. It was actually J.D. Hooker that wrote this article in Watt's name, using Watt's notes, though revising them where needed, and with the intention that this would be used in the Flora of British India that was being written at the time by Hooker.


Primula pulchra or not? (Smith collection)

The first new species of Primula described in the article is P. gambeliana (a spelling mistake of P. gambleana) from a collection (Watt 5483) made at "the Tra Cha Kumpa Kubra Rock (Black Kabur?) above Jongri (Dzongri), Sikkim 27°30'29.99"N 88° 9'9.45"E. It grows in moss and often in crevices of steep wet cliffs.

P. pulchra is the second new species described in the article, from a collection (s.n. 12,000 ft) made by Hooker at Lachen, Sikkim (27°43'2.18"N 88°33'29.02"E, probably in the Zemu valley according to Hooker's Himalayan Journals). Also noted is a syntype collection (Watt 5406) made at the upper Ratong Chu Basin, Jongri (27°32'38.68"N 88° 8'4.47"E) for which Watt 5268 is given as equivalent. This location is very close to the type location for P. gambleana.

Both of these species are figured: P. gambleana - Tab I, and P. pulchra Tab II. A (see image below). Hooker makes the comment under P. gambleana in the Flora of British India: "petiole not sheathed at the base as in P. pulchra, which this a good deal resembles".

Drawings from the Journal of the Linnean Society

If you compare the two drawings side by side, there are a lot of similarities between the two species. Both having a sheathing base, but the scales are much larger in P. pulchra. The most obvious difference is the leaf shape with the leaves of P. gambleana shown as orbicular though Smith & Fletcher later described them as "ovate-cordate or ovate-oblong rather than orbicular" and noted that the figure shows the leaves as more orbicular than is usual. The leaf base is described as usually deeply cordate but occasionally truncate. Smith & Fletcher describes the leaves of P. pulchra as oblong to ovate-oblong with a rounded or slightly cordate base. Both species are shown with an obvious scape with 1-10 flowers. The relative size of the plants on the types specimens are similar.

P. pulchra? capsule (L), P. gambleana capsule (R)
courtesy Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh

Apparently, the most distinguishing feature is the seed capsule which was not known when the two species were described. P. gambleana has a cylindrical capsule, twice as long as the calyx and dehiscing by longitudinal valves. Seen in only one collection of P. pulchra (Tari, Sikkim, no collector) at Edinburgh is a subglobose capsule equalling the calyx dehiscing by a crumbling wall (Section Petiolares type). This collection is of 6 thin, sparsely flowered plants, and none show the sheathing base that is seen in similar plants in the type collections. Is this really P. pulchra in seed or is it another petiolarid species?

Primula sp Yak Desha = P. pulchra Smith?

In about 1985, George Smith made a collection from the area near Kanchenjunga that was identified as P. pulchra. It was awarded a PC in 1991 and may still be still in cultivation. This clone does not seem to produce the tall scapes of the type collection and it makes me wonder if it really is P. pulchra. In addition to this is a recent image from Yak Desha, Nepal which seem to equate to the Smith collection but again does not seem to be the same as the type collection of P. pulchra!

Perhaps the Smith collection is true P. pulchra, but it is important to get it right because it affects other related species P. chamaethauma and P. chamaedoron which have been lumped into P. pulchra by some authorities.

What is needed is lots of images, including the capsules, of both P. pulchra and P. gambelana from Sikkim in the Ratong basin (near HMI Base Camp) and the cliffs around Black Kabur, near Dzongri and also the Zemu valley. Only with this additional information can this puzzle be solved. If you can help, please contact Pam Eveleigh.

Pam Eveleigh © 2017

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Recent New Primula Species (2016)

The New Year is a good time to reflect on what is new in Primula. Although I have made a lot of progress on my Original Description Project, the list of all Primula species is a moving target. In particular, there have been several Chinese species discovered. Changes for 2016 include:

Primula persimilis - from the original publication

Primula persimilis G.Hao, C.M.Hu & Y.Xu - Discovered near Luzhou, Sichuan, this species has white flowers with a tawny, hairy calyx. It belongs in Section Monocarpicae and strongly resembles P. tsiangii, but differs in flower color, capsule shape and length of pedicels and calyx.

Primula scopulicola G.Hao, C.M.Hu & Y.Xu - A new member of Section Monocarpicae from Sichuan growing at the same location as P. persimilis. It most closely resembles P. lithophila which also grows in the same area but has smaller flowers, distinctly petiolate leaves, a campanulate calyx, and the capsule is globose (not cylindrical).

Primula undulifolia G.Hao, C.M.Hu & Y.Xu - A new species from Hunan, named for the wavy and shallow undulations on the leaf margin. It is a member of section Carolinella which is noted for its calyptrate (opening by a lid) capsules and is similar to Primula kwangtungensis but differs by its smaller flowers and narrowly oblong leaves with an undulate margin.

Primula wawushanica G.Hao, C.M.Hu & Y.Xu - This species was listed in my 2015 year end post, but it had not then been officially published. It belongs in Section Petiolares, Subsection Davidii and resembles P. fagosa and P. epilosa but is distinguished by sessile leaves, smaller flowers, shorter scape at flowering and a calyx split to 1/3. See the original description for images.

Primula calderiana subsp. bawaii

Primula calderiana Balf.f. & R.E.Cooper subsp. bawaii Bawri, Gajurel & M.L.Khan - Differs from P. calderiana subsp. strumosa (P. strumosa) by having efarinose leaves, the calyx cut slightly deeper into lobes with an cute apex, and emarginated petal lobes. it is unclear how this subspecies differs from P. strumosa var. perlata or the yellow form of P. tsariensis.

There are also a series of newly described subspecies published in Primulaceen-Studien, which I don't currently have a copy of. They include:
Primula hirsuta All. subsp. brevipilosa Kress
Primula hirsuta All. subsp. longipilosa Kress

Primula intricata Gren. & Godr. subsp. alpina Kress
Primula intricata Gren. & Godr. subsp. bergidensis (Kress) Kress
Primula intricata Gren. & Godr. subsp. impigrorum (Kress) Kress
Primula intricata Gren. & Godr. subsp. patens (Kress) Kress
Primula intricata Gren. & Godr. subsp. subcordata (Kress) Kress

Happy New Year and Best Wishes to All in 2017!

Pam Eveleigh © 2016

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Primula Hunting in NW Yunnan

There are many remote places to explore for rare Primulas and NW Yunnan is one of them. The area west of Zhongdian (Shangri-La) 27°50'10.19"N 99°42'15.44"E, towards the Myanmar border and crossing the Mekong (Lancang) and Salween (Nujiang) rivers is prime Primula habitat.

Getting to this area isn't easy, and it is limited to people willing to go beyond road-side botanizing. However there is a Plant Hunting Expedition run by Whistling Arrow going here in 2017*. Simon Crutchley from Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh will be along as the botanical consultant. If you are in need of an adventure, check it out.

What Primulas grow there?

Starting at the Mekong river valley is the town of Cizhong, home to a Catholic church built under the supervision of Father Theodore Monbeig, and completed in 1911. This replaced a previous church which was located 3kms south at the village of Cigu ( 28° 0'21.07"N 98°53'51.59"E) that was destroyed in 1905. Overlooking Cigu is Thrana "the black nose", an outcrop of rock which is the type location for Primula monbeigii, now considered a synonym of Primula henrici, a woody cushion species with bright rose flowers. No images exist of this species in the wild.

Thrana, above Cigu, location for Primula monbeigii

Straight west and just south of Mount Biluo is the Sila Pass, type location for Primula silaensis, a dainty pink relative of Primula amethystina.

Moving further west, past the town of Bingzhongluo ( 28° 0'57.97"N 98°37'23.26"E) located on the Salween river, rises Mount Kenyichunpo (approx. 5000m). Joseph Rock in 1926 explored its slopes and more recently in 2006 the southern slopes were explored by the Gaoligong Shan Biodiversity Survey around Chukuai lake.

Primula agleniana

This is a fairyland for Primulas! In the meadows grows several species including the stately Primula agleniana, in its white form, sometimes flushed rose, but always with deeply lacerate leaves. Primula biserrata (formerly P. serratifolia), is also here, with unusual flowers having petals with a distinct bar of orange-yellow running from the mouth of the tube to the tip of each petal and an outer edge of white. See image at top. Primula firmipes is also a meadow species.  It is a smaller relative of P. alpicola, The tidy oval leaves have a heart shaped base, the flowers are cream colored drooping bells. A sharp eye will spot Primula muscarioides. This species has a spike of purple-blue flowers on stems to 40cm and in this area the leaves may vary to almost cut-leaved.

Primula dryadifolia

The rocky habitats around the lake are also home to Primulas. Here we will find Primula dryadifolia forming mat-like cushions with dark rose flowers. Perhaps the rarest Primula species to be found here is P. triloba. It was first found north of Cizhong at Londre. The leaves are tiny 6-8mm, each with three lobes, but the plants form cushions 5-10cm across. The flowers are rose with a yellow eye and a hairy throat.

Other species that may be seen are the stunning red bells of Primula valentiniana, the dainty yellow Primula prenantha, and Primula lihengiana, a species recently described in 2009. With this area being little botanized there exists the possibility of seeing other exciting species and even new ones!

* For information purposes only, I am not affiliated with this company.

Pam Eveleigh © 2016

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Primula whitei or Primula bhutanica?

Primula bhutanica

Primula whitei and Primula bhutanica are members of Section Petiolares whose members have a crumbling seed capsule (rather than the seed capsule opening by valves like most species), and often have dimorphic leaves, that is, leaves of a different shape are produced at different times in the season.
There is much confusion regarding these two species and their relationship to each other and, if indeed, they are actually distinct species.

Primula whitei was described first, in 1911, by W.W. Smith from plants collected by J.C. White (#122) on the Pe-le La, Bhutan 27°32'50.33"N 90°12'57.39"E. The holotype is in Calcutta, CAL0000017397, with a photograph of the type at Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, E00024821. Many additional collections were also gathered by Ludlow & Sherriff and R.E. Cooper.

Primula bhutanica was described in 1941 by Fletcher who recognised that some plants collected under P. whitei showed consistent, distinct characteristics separate from true P. whitei. Several collections are listed in the description, but the holotype is Ludlow and Sherriff #1166 from the Choling La, in Eastern Bhutan 27°19'22.59"N 91°46'33.69"E and resides at Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh E00024661.

The distinct characteristics used to separate the two species are: the calyx lobes which are entire (undivided) in P. bhutanica and fimbriated (fringed) in P. whitei, and the corolla lobes which are tridentate (three toothed) in P. bhutanica and crenulate (finely wavy) in P. whitei. Both species are blue with a white zone in the center and a yellowish-green eye. The distribution of the two species is split with P. bhutanica occurring further east than P. whitei.


Characteristics of P. bhutanica

Characteristics of P. whitei (courtesy RBGE)

In fruit the leaves of P. whitei have a base decurrent along the petiole and P. bhutanica has an attenuate base with a narrow, distinct petiole. (see illustration below)

In 1947, L&Ss&E observed and collected under #12299 near Tongkyuk Dzong in Tibet 29°57'39.88"N 94°46'49.59"E a population of plants that had characteristics of both species - some plants had tridentate petals and others had finely crenulately toothed petals. They stated in the field notes: "Specimens under this number should not be separated. All specimens were collected in one spot and represent one species."

From John Richards (Spring leaf left, Fall leaf right)

John Richards has discussed these species in the context of the Section in the article "An Account of Primula Section Petiolares in Cultivation", J. Scott. Rock Gard. Club 15(3):177, 1977. He noted that "it appears that extensive hybridisation has occurred between P. whitei and bhutanica in a few gardens where they self-sow; the majority of plants now in cultivation seem now to be hybrid, with poor pollen and seed fertility."

So only further observations of plants in the wild will help solve this problem.

The Flora of Bhutan keeps the two species distinct but notes that P. bhutanica may only warrant subspecies status within P. whitei.

The Flora of China (1994) reduces P. bhutanica to a synonym of P. whitei with the explanation given in the Chinese version stating that from observations in the wild and the Ludlow & Sherriff collections 12299 and 12291 show the distinction between the corolla lobes and calyx used to separate the two species is mixed in that population.

Pam Eveleigh © 2016

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Primula biserrata is the correct name for P. serratifolia Franch.

I can imagine that in the 1800's it would have been difficult to keep track of the names of new species. If you were lucky the author would have published in a widely available journal or perhaps a colleague would have passed on the information. Or course, it would have been easy to be unaware that a name had already been used when describing a new species and that is the case for Primula serratifolia.

Primula auricula, serrated leaf edge

In 1876, Gandoger described a species called Primula serratifolia, which he thought to be distinct from typical Primula auricula described by Linnaeus. Gandoger quotes "P. auricula Michelet in Billot exsicc. no. 1309 bis, non Lin." The Billot reference is here, though the authority "Michelet" is misspelled, and should be "Michalet", according to the list of collaborators for the publication. The specimen no. 1309 is in Paris, specimen "P04521859", which is incorrectly filed under the name Primula dumicola, and which shows the serrated leaf edge which the name refers to. Michalet does mention that Primula auricula grows at "Baume-les-Dames" in his book "Histoire naturelle du Jura et des departments voisins: Botanique", which is the location where the collection was made. A google search of that location reveals that Primula auricula is common there, though there has been a recent split between northern and southern populations.

Primula biserrata

In 1885, Franchet used the same name "Primula serratifolia" to describe a species from the Cang Shan, near Dali, Yunnan. His description of the species is confusing as he failed to point out the most notable characteristic: the flowers are bicolored, yellow with a white border on the petals (he described them as yellow only). This confusion lead Forrest to believe he had found a new species at the same location, which he described as "Primula biserrata" in 1908. As the name "Primula serratifolia" is already taken, Franchet's description is a later homonym and considered "nom illeg." (invalid). Primula biserrata is the next validly published name and so it becomes the valid name for this species.

Primula biserrata

 Pam Eveleigh © 2016

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