I consider this has been correctly identified but apply a slightly different name drawing attention to the unpublished research of Professor Arve Elvebakk, University of Tromso, Norway (Curator of Tromso Arctic-Alpine Botanic Garden).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 VOF fits with what I currently consider to be typical Primula macrophylla** (syn. Primula macrophylla var. macrophylla). I have observed both P.macrophylla and P.moorcroftiana on the Rohtang. 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. *Please note that it was Primula moorcroftiana (P.macrophylla var. moorcroftiana) which the British mountaineers first spotted as the descended into the Bhyundar Valley at some 4800m rather than Primula macrophylla.* 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 Sunday, January 6, 2013 at 3:40:25 PM UTC, D.S Rawat wrote: > > *Primula macrophylla* is an alpine primrose in the Himalaya. Himalayan > high altitudes are homeland of maximum number of Primula species in the > world. One alpine valley in Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand is known as > Primula valley. This primula depicted in the pics was one of the flower > which compelled Frank Smythe to call Bhyundar Valley (earlier local nameof > VoF) as Valley of Flower.Those who are going to VoFl in June may see it in > full bloom. > DSRawat Pantnagar > -- 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.
