Valley of Flowers1

[Rakesh]

Picture taken in Valley Of Flowers, Uttaranchal in June 2007

(DSCF6659)

Rakesh

[Pankaj Kumar]

Primula macrophylla.
Pankaj

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"TAXONOMISTS GETTING EXTINCT AND SPECIES DATA DEFICIENT !!"

Pankaj Kumar Ph.D. (Orchidaceae)
Research Associate
Greater Kailash Sacred Landscape Project
Department of Habitat Ecology
Wildlife Institute of India
Post Box # 18
Dehradun - 248001, India

[Gurcharan Singh]

Yes, P. macrophylla

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Dr. Gurcharan Singh
Retired  Associate Professor
SGTB Khalsa College, University of Delhi, Delhi-110007
Res: 932 Anand Kunj, Vikas Puri, New Delhi-110018.
Phone: 011-25518297  Mob: 9810359089
http://people.du.ac.in/~singhg45/ 

[chrischa...@btinternet.com]

I consider this has been correctly identified but apply a slightly different name drawing attention to the unpublished research of Professor Arve Elvebakk, University of Tromso, Norway (Curator of Tromso Arctic-Alpine Botanic Garden).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 Himachal Pradesh 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.

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.

Please note that I have observed and photographed Primulas of this complex in the Kashmir Valley which do not fit either P.moorcroftiana, P.macrophylla or P.meeboldii - thus at least one more taxon is involved.

[J.M. Garg]

Thanks, Chadwell ji

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