I consider this to be an UNIDENTIFIED TAXON WITHIN THE PRIMULA MACROPHYLLA COMPLEX.
May I draw attention to the unpublished research of Professor Arve Elvebakk, University of Tromso, Norway (Curator of Tromso Arctic-Alpine Botanic Garden). The PRIMULA MACROPHYLLA (sensu lato - meaning in the broad sense) COMPLEX has troubled botanists and specialist growers for more than a century. Elvebakk has recognised a separate taxon/species *Primula meeboldii* (honouring the German botanist who first collected pressed specimens of this on high passes in Ladakh in the 19th Century). It has pinkish flowers and occurs in Ladakh and some other regions. Hopefully the full details will be published in the not-too-distant future. Anyhow, I am in support of the separation of P.meeboldii at species level, along with P.macrophylla sensu stricto (in the strict sense) and Primula moorcroftiana as separate species. *The image taken in the Paddar fits with what I photographed on the Sinthan Pass in the Kashmir Valley (with borders Kishtwar). It does not fit Primula macrophylla (P.macrophylla var. macrophylla) nor Primula moorcroftiana (P.macrophylla var. moorcroftiana) nor Primula meeboldii. It may well represent a separate taxon which in time might be published as a distinct species.* I have observed both P.macrophylla and P.moorcroftiana on the Rohtang Pass in Hiamchal Pradesh. P.moorcrotiana is mostly found from 4000-4500m (I have not been higher but it may well grow at higher altitudes) whereas P.macrophylla is mostly found between 3000-3600m. I have found Primula macrophylla sensu stricto to vary a lot - so may well be subdivided at some point but the plant photographed in the VOF is not Primula moorcroftiana nor P.meeboldii nor matches the unknown(s) in Kashmir. On Monday, October 31, 2011 at 11:11:28 AM UTC, Suresh Rana wrote: > > Identification request > > Date 14th June 2011 > > Location: Paddar valley district Kishtwar J&K. > > Altitude: 4130 meters asl > > GPS: 33.30 N and 76.34 E > > Plant habit/habitat: Wild herb > > Plant height; 1-2 feets > > > > Thanks and regards > > > > ------- > > Suresh Rana, > > Research Scholar Environmental Sciences, > > University of Jammu. > > Mb. 09419935911 > > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "efloraofindia" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To post to this group, send an email to [email protected]. Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/indiantreepix. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
