Report and lists of plants and birds seen and localities visited Tibet, August 2009

Transcription

1 Report and lists of plants and birds seen and localities visited Tibet, August 2009 John Birks With contributions from Shonil Bhagwat, Hilary Birks, Johannes Grytnes, John-Arvid Grytnes, Cathy Jenks, Jan Salick, David Thorne, & Margaret Thorne 2014

2 Cover illustrations by Hilary Birks View of the CogarboValley from Qu La Left: Saussurea gossipiphora Right: Delphinium glaciale

3 1 University of Bergen Tibet Norway University Network Expedition to Tibet, August 2009 Introduction This is the final report of this University of Bergen Tibet Norway University Co operation Network Expedition to Tibet in August Any expedition to the Roof of the World or the Third Pole is likely to be an adventure in many different ways and this Expedition, like the Alpine Garden Society (AGS) Expedition to Tibet in July 2005, turned out to be an adventure in various ways botanically, culturally, logistically, organisationally, travelling, and physically demanding. The August 2009 Expedition consisted of David and Margaret Thorne (from West Linton, Peeblesshire), John Arvid and Johannes Grytnes, and John and Hilary Birks (all from Bergen). La Duo and Lhag Chong (from Lhasa) were able to be with us in the field on August 5 6 and Jan Salick (Missouri Botanical Garden) and Shonil Bhagwat (University of Oxford) joined us on August 20 and were in the field with us August The organisation of the August 2009 Expedition was not easy as I only heard in early May 2009 via climbing and trekking associates in Kathmandu and from alpine botany friends that access to the Tibetan Himalaya might be possible later that year, unlike the situation in 2008 when access to the area was closed. I hastily organised the 2009 Expedition for the period August 2 August 30 thanks to the excellent Tibet Wind Horse Adventure company in Lhasa and its director Jampa. The expedition organisation was not easy as Hilary and myself were on a botanical expedition to the Yunnan in south west China in June and several members of our group were away on other field work trips and expeditions to Bhutan, India, and Svalbard. The Thorne and Birks couples flew from Britain on August 2 to Kathmandu and spent the night of August 3 in Kathmandu where they met up with Grytnes father and son who had flown to Kathmandu via Bangkok. The six of us flew to Lhasa on August 4 where we met up with Tashi (our trek guide), La Duo, Lhag Chong, and other Lhasa colleagues. We spent the nights of August 4 6 in the excellent Kyichu Hotel in Lhasa and explored areas near Lhasa (~3500 m). On August 7 we drove 380 km in Land Cruisers from Lhasa to Shigatse and stayed overnight there (3900 m). We reached Kharta and the Chutang campsite (3650 m) late on August 8. Next day we trekked from Yueba to Samchung La (4600 m) and camped close to the main path at Dingjin (4460 m). We returned to Samchung La on August 10 for botanical explorations and established Camp 1 at Tsonama (4210 m, 2 nights) in the Cogarbo Valley. Between August 11 and 17 the party explored the Cogarbo Valley and did various botanical surveys. We moved up to Camp 2 (Tsokaphu, 4415 m, 2 nights) and Camp 3 (Daknap, 4530 m, 2 nights), and then back to the Dingjin campsite (2 nights). We then returned to the Chutang campsite near Kharta on August 18. We drove in Land Cruisers from Kharta to Shigatse (August 19) and from Shigatse to Lhasa (August 20) where we met up with Jan Salick and Shonil Bhagwat at the Kyichu Hotel. We then travelled north of Lhasa to Damshung where we spent three nights (August 21 23) at the Bai Ma Hotel and explored parts of the vast Buddha Mountain range. We then travelled over the Cha La to stay for one night in Rutok (August 24 never again, a terrible place!). We attempted to visit Bo La (Mi La) on August 25 but fresh and surprisingly deep snow forced us to retreat. We returned to Lhasa and spent two nights (August 25 26) in the luxury of the wonderful Tibetan Kyichu Hotel in Lhasa. We all flew out to Kathmandu on August 27. Shonil Bhagwat and John Birks gave lectures on August 28 at Tribhuvan University at a day long seminar on biodiversity and they, Hilary, and Jan discussed projects with NOMA MSc students and other Nepalese botanical colleagues. The Thornes botanically explored the area of Phulchowky near Kathmandu. The party dispersed on August 29 and returned to their respective homes on August 30 or later.

4 2 The Expedition had the following major aims: 1. To explore the botany and plant richness patterns in the Cogarbo Valley, a valley that runs from Kharta (3690 m) to Qu La (4932 m), is uninhabited, and has a simple topographical structure running from NNE to SSW from the Karda Zangbo river to Qu La. 2. To select suitable mountain sites north of Lhasa for a possible Tibetan contribution to the international GLORIA (Global Observation Research Initiative in Alpine Environments) network. In addition, the Expedition had the following secondary aims: i. To study the ecology of Meconopsis tibetica. In July 2005 we found an undescribed species of tall poppy, M. tibetica, to the west of the Cogarbo Valley near the Sha u La where we found about 25 plants of this remarkable and magnificent species (Grey Wilson 2006). However, Howard Bury (1922) in Mount Everest: The Reconnaissance 1921 describes finding near to Samchung La a wonderful meconopsis of a deep claret colour that I had never seen before. There were fifteen to twenty flowers on each stem, and it grew from 2 to 3 feet high (Howard Bury 1922, p.106) and growing out from the dwarf rhododendrons in dry places were tall spikes of a claret coloured meconopsis, now gone to seed some spikes had as many as twenty seed pods (Wollaston in Howard Bury 1922, p.299). ii. To collect for further study mosses, liverworts, and macro lichens in the Cogarbo Valley, the first time that these groups would have been studied in detail in the Tibetan Himalaya. iii. To discover whether Meconopsis torquata still grows in southern Tibet. This local endemic species of blue poppy was last seen by western botanists in 1943 and it has not been clear if the plant is now extinct or if the plant persists in some remote areas that no botanist has visited since iv. To add to existing knowledge of the Tibetan alpine flora. The Tibetan alpine flora is, in contrast to the Nepalese and Bhutanese alpine floras, surprisingly poorly known as shown by our discovery in 2005 of over 800 species, including four undescribed species, six species new to China and about 40 species unrecorded from Xizang according to the Flora of China. During our 2009 Expedition we found 868 species of flowering plant (including grasses, sedges, and rushes) and ferns and fern allies in a wide range of ecological habitats. Not all these plants are strictly alpine plants as some are shrubs or steppe plants. The 2009 species list is almost certainly not as complete as it could be as we made no determined effort to find or identify all the grasses in the steppe and semi desert areas and roadside sites we visited. The lists for the alpine areas are thought to be fairly complete remembering that we were visiting Tibet in mid August and some plants were already over. The lists for the Cogarbo Valley are as complete as possible as we attempted to find and identify all the vascular plants in the Valley including small grasses, sedges, rushes, and the many inconspicuous herbs. This report provides initially a very brief introduction to the areas we visited. Some notes about plant identifications are given, followed by notes on the species list. Accounts for each field day are then given (localities and habitats visited, elevation, number of species seen, species of particular interest, etc.). These daily accounts are grouped into three major parts of the Expedition Lhasa to Kharta (August 4 10), Cogarbo Valley (August 11 18), and areas north and east of Lhasa (August 19 25). The report concludes with a general discussion about the flora, the GLORIA sites, and species richness patterns in relation to elevation in the Cogarbo Valley. References to the literature consulted in the plant identification work and in the preparation of this report are then given.

5 Cogarbo Valley from different elevations View of Tsonama (4210 m) where we established Camp 1 View of the two large lakes in the centre of the valley at Tsokaphu (4415 m) where we established Camp 2 View looking north from Daknap (4530 m) where we had our Camp 3 View looking south to Qu La (4932 m) from slopes at about 4500 m)

6 Cogarbo Valley General view looking north from about 4800 m. Note the large rock fall at the lower right of the picture Yak transport over Qu La

7 3 Appendix I contains lists of birds seen on the Expedition as a whole and in the Cogarbo Valley, kindly provided by David and Margaret Thorne. Appendix II is the list of plants recorded in 1921 by AFR Wollaston in the Cogarbo Valley and adjacent areas. Place names follow, as far as possible, Gizi Map 1:2,000,000 Tibet Autonomous Region (ISBN CM) and the Mount Qomolangma (Sagarmatha) :100,000 map (Xi an Cartographic Publishing House) for names in the Kharta/Cogarbo area. Elevations are based on field measurements using an altimeter and/or GPS. Photographs are by Hilary Birks. Areas Visited The general topography, geology, climate, and ecology of the southern part of the Tibetan Plateau and the Tibetan Himalaya are outlined in Birks et al. (2006, 2007). The two main areas we visited are the Cogarbo Valley in the Tibetan Himalaya and Buddha Mountain and nearby ranges north of Lhasa. The Cogarbo Valley (The Valley of the Lakes) (28 30 N E) is a magnificent glaciated U shaped valley with abundant small lakes (Figure 1). It extends from 4210 to 4932 m. It consists of orthogneiss and paragneiss (Odell 1947). There are scattered deposits of glacial till. The northern end of the Valley is below Samchung La (3379 m) and the southern end is at Qu La (4932 m). There is a very extensive rock fall (or former rock glacier?) on the northern slopes of Labaq Ri (5364 m) that extends down the eastern side of the Valley to about 4700 m. The vegetation of the Valley is a mosaic of Rhododendron scrub with some Spiraea, Berberis, Salix, and Sorbus, and tall herbaceous vegetation, grading into wetland, marsh, and fens towards the margins of the lakes. With increasing elevation shrubs become rarer and Rhododendron lepidotum, R. setosum, and R. anthopogon become very rare above 4500 m. There are no inhabitants in the Valley but there is considerable use of the Valley by local people collecting wood, shrubs, medicinal plants, roots, and bulbs. The Valley is frequently used as a thoroughfare from Kharta to the forested areas on the Kangshung slopes below Thangsum and Zokshyam. We saw many people walking north carrying large amounts of timber and tree logs. Buddha Mountain (30 11 N E) lies 100 km north west of Lhasa. It has many snow covered peaks supporting small glaciers. It is part of the large Nyenchen Tanglha Shan mountain range with the highest peak being 7162 m. The bedrock geology consists of uplifted and partly metamorphosed sedimentary rock, the so called Tethyan Himalaya (Zurick and Pacheco 2006). Where we visited (up to 5350 m), the vegetation was a mosaic of alpine steppe, alpine desert, and some scree (Baniya et al. 2012). The other areas we visited were around Lhasa, on the way between Lhasa and Kharta, and eastnorth east of Lhasa (Cha La, Mi La (Ba La)). Plant Identification 1. Previous expeditions In terms of the areas that the 2009 Expedition visited, there appears to be very little known or published about the flora of the mountains near or north of Lhasa or the steppe and semi desert area between Lhasa and Kharta. George Sherriff ( ) and Frank Ludlow ( ) visited Lhasa and the mountains to the east and south east of Lhasa. Their material is housed in the Herbarium of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE). The alpine areas of the Kangshung Valley on the eastern side of Mount Everest were explored by the Everest Reconnaissance 1921 Expedition (Howard Bury 1922) consisting of George H. Leigh Mallory, Dr. A.F.R. Wollaston, Lt. Col. C.K. Howard Bury, and others. Wollaston (1922) collected 125 species of

8 4 vascular plant and three lichens (Appendix II), as well as ten mammals and 62 birds and saw an additional 33 bird species. In October 1989 Dr. Bernhard Dickore (Göttingen) visited the Kangshung Valley as part of a geological and geomorphological expedition. Much of the material that Dickore collected in 1989 remains to be determined fully. He kindly provided a list of all his collections and his determinations. This list proved to be of great help in identifying our 2005 and 2009 material. 2. The 2005 Alpine Garden Society (AGS) Expedition material In 2005 John and Hilary Birks had permission from Lhasa University and the relevant authorities to collect plant material for identification purposes. About 500 collections were made and these have been deposited in the Herbarium, Lhasa University and the Herbarium, RBGE. The vascular plant flora of Tibet, according to Cheng yih ( ) consists of 208 families, 1258 genera, and 5766 species. Flora Xizangica (Cheng yih ) is rather out of date, it is difficult to get hold of, and, most critically, it is in Chinese. Flora Reipublicae Popularis Sinicae (FRPS) is complete with 126 parts in 80 volumes, describing 31,141 species (12% of the world s flora). It too is in Chinese. The flora of Tibet is about 19% of the total Chinese flora. FRPS has been translated into English (Flora of China) and there are currently 24 volumes of text and 23 volumes of illustrations. Identification of the 2005 material was, by necessity, done using several sources and monographs, by contacting various taxonomic experts, and by comparison with reliably named material at the Herbarium, RBGE. Identification of plants from the Tibetan Plateau steppe and semi desert vegetation was particularly problematical as there was nothing in English except for the twelve volumes of Flora of China then available. These contain massive keys for some genera, e.g. Scutellaria (98 species), Trigonotis (58), Phlomis (44), Nepeta (42), Eritrichium (39), Dracocephalum (35), and Microulia (29). There are many Asteraceae, Poaceae, Lamiaceae, Boraginaceae, Fabaceae, and Apiaceae in the steppe. Many problems were unresolved in the identification of our steppe collections, in particular Astragalus, Oxytropis, Artemisia, Aster, and Leontopodium. There were no relevant floras in English for these major steppe genera. It is a very difficult flora that is poorly known or understood. Identification of plants from the alpine parts of the Tibetan Himalaya was more straightforward, thanks to the nine parts of Flora of Bhutan ( ) and the excellent book by Yoshida (2005) where 1771 Himalayan species are illustrated. Yoshida s text, however, is in Japanese. There were some problems simply because of the very many rather similar species in some genera in Tibet and China, e.g. Pedicularis, Potentilla, Primula, Androsace, Gentiana, Rhododendron, Saussurea, Rhodiola, Silene, Corydalis, Draba, Leontopodium, Astragalus, Carex, Oxytropis, Arenaria, Anaphalis, Aster, Aconitum, Thalictrum, Eritrichium and relatives, and the large number of genera in some families, e.g. Apiaceae, Brassicaceae, and Boraginaceae. Several taxonomic monographs (listed in the references) were extremely useful for particular groups such as Androsace, Clematis, Codonopsis, ferns, Geranium, Hypecoum, Impatiens, Incarvillea, Iris, Kobresia, Koenigia, Meconopsis, Monocotyledons, Orchidaceae, Pedicularis, Pegaeophyton, Poa, Potentilla, Primula, Ranunculus, Rhododendron, Saussurea, Scrophulariaceae, Sorbus, and Youngia. The following taxonomic experts generously helped with particular groups: Eona Aitken, RBGE Androsace, Gentianaceae, Diplarche (Diapensiaceae) Crinan Alexander, RBGE Rosaceae David Chamberlain, RBGE Rhododendron Philip Cribb, Kew Orchidaceae

9 5 Christopher Grey Wilson, Kenninghall Ian Hedge, RBGE Magnus Lidén, Uppsala Douglas McKean, RBGE Robert Mill, RBGE John Richards, Hexham Lawrie Springate, RBGE Mark Watson, RBGE Meconopsis Lamiaceae Corydalis Fabaceae Pedicularis, Boraginaceae Primula Rhodiola, Sedum, Cremanthodium, Ligularia, Soroseris, Saussurea, Youngia, other Asteraceae Apiaceae A total of 801 species was seen and identified on the 2005 Expedition. An additional 27 species were found by John and Hilary Birks on their reconnaissance trip in June We thus saw 14.2% of the 5766 species recorded in Flora Xizangica, 13.9% of the 1258 genera, and 36.1% of the 208 families recorded in Flora Xizangica. Four previously undescribed species (Corydalis, Meconopsis, Rhodiola, Rhododendron) were found, six species not listed in Flora of China were found, and about 40 species not listed in Flora Xizangica or not listed as occurring in Xizang in Flora of China were found. These additions were mainly in the genera Kobresia, Carex, Lagotis, and Pedicularis and are largely a result of recent taxonomic revisions (Mill 2000, 2001, Yamazaki 2000, 2003a, 2003b, Dickore 1995, Zhang 2004, Hedberg 1997). 3. The 2009 Expedition material Plant determinations were partly made in the field and partly subsequently from the limited material collected and the extensive set of images of plants taken by Hilary Birks, John Birks, and Margaret Thorne. Identifications were made using the same sources as were used for determining the 2005 material except that by early 2014 almost all the volumes of Flora of China were available. Plant nomenclature follows Cheng yih ( ) as the only complete taxonomic treatment for the flora of Tibet. Some of this nomenclature has been replaced, particularly at the family or genus level, based on Flora of China. For consistency, I have followed Flora Xizangica except for taxa not included in this flora. The following taxonomic experts generously helped with particular groups: Kazumi Fujikawa, Kochi Saussurea Josef Lemmens, Wilsele Androsace Dieter Zschummel, Wallendorf Androsace Magnus Lidén, Uppsala Corydalis John Richards, Hexham Primula Mark Watson, RBGE Apiaceae The bryophyte (360 specimens) collection has been sent to David Long (RBGE) and the macro lichen (58 specimens) collection to Per Magnus Jørgensen and Tor Tonsberg (University Museum of Bergen) for determination. This work is currently in progress. A total of 868 species of vascular plant were seen and identified on the 2009 Expedition (84 were identified to genus level only). We saw most species in the Asteraceae (131 species) and Scrophulariaceae (53) followed by Gentianaceae (51), Rosaceae (45), Saxifragaceae (37), Ranunculaceae (34), Fabaceae (31), Apiaceae (31), and Primulaceae (30) (Table 1). The richest genera (Table 2) were Saussurea (38 species), Gentiana (36), Saxifraga (36), Pedicularis (34), Corydalis (27), and Potentilla (25).

10 6 Table 1. No of species per family seen on the Tibet 2009 Expedition (ordered by richness) Family No. species Family No. species Asteraceae 131 Berberidaceae 4 Scrophulariaceae 53 Chenopodiaceae 4 Gentianaceae 51 Dipsacaceae 4 Rosaceae 45 Solanaceae 4 Saxifragaceae 37 Balsaminaceae 3 Ranunculaceae 34 Iridaceae 3 Apiaceae 31 Plantaginaceae 3 Fabaceae 31 Caprifoliaceae 2 Primulaceae 30 Convolvulaceae 2 Caryophyllaceae 29 Diapensiaceae 2 Brassiaceae 28 Elaeagnaceae 2 Fumariaceae 28 Ephederaceae 2 Crassulaceae 27 Grossulariaceae 2 Polygonaceae 27 Juncaginaceae 2 Pteridophyte 27 Orobanchaceae 2 Boraginaceae 25 Plumbaginaceae 2 Poaceae 24 Thymelaeaceae 2 Cyperaceae 20 Urticaceae 2 Lamiaceae 17 Violaceae 2 Campanulaceae 16 Araceae 1 Liliaceae 16 Betulaceae 1 Juncaceae 14 Bignoniaceae 1 Orchidaceae 12 Callitrichaceae 1 Onagraceae 8 Euphorbiaceae 1 Parnassiaceae 8 Gesneriaceae 1 Salicaceae 8 Hippuridaceae 1 Ericaceae 7 Oleaceae 1 Geraniaceae 7 Pinaceae 1 Papaveraceae 6 Santalaceae 1 Rubiaceae 6 Valerianaceae 1 Cupressaceae 5 Table 2. The richest genera seen on the Tibet 2009 Expedition ( 6 species) in rank order Genus No. species Genus No. species Genus No. species Saussurea 38 Juncus 12 Oxytropis 8 Gentiana 36 Artemisia 11 Parnassia 8 Saxifraga 36 Draba 10 Salix 8 Pedicularis 34 Sedum 10 Soroseris 8 Corydalis 27 Carex 9 Cremanthodium 7 Potentilla 25 Delphinium 9 Geranium 7 Primula 17 Kobresia 9 Koenigia 6 Rhodiola 17 Leontopodium 9 Ligularia 6 Astragalus 16 Pleurospermum 9 Meconopsis 6 Arenaria 15 Poa 9 Ranunculus 6 Androsace 13 Cyananthus 8 Swertia 6 Aster 13 Epilobium 8

11 Two species found mainly at low elevations ( m) in the Cogarbo Valley Ligularia rumicifolia Cyananthus lobatus

12 Two common alpines in the Cogarbo Valley found over a wide elevational range Cremanthodium decaisnei Corydalis meifolia

13 Two attractive alpines in the Cogarbo Valley Saussurea simpsoniana Arenaria glanduligera

14 Saussurea gossipiphora in the Cogarbo Valley growing in open vegetation collected to sell for medicinal purposes by a local

15 Two attractive blue alpines in the Cogarbo Valley Meconopsis horridula Corydalis jigmei

16 Two high alpines in the Cogarbo Valley Silene nigrescens Hippolyte gossypina

17 Table 3. List of species seen Lhasa to Kharta, 4, 5, 7 10 August 2009 areas south of Lhasa (6 August records from Cha La are in Table 4) 7 Latin Name Family Notes Bupleurum candollei Apiaceae x Slender perennial, up to 70 cm tall, linear leaves, pale yellow petals; dry open soils; local. Not B. falcatum as said in field cf. Heracleum wallichii Apiaceae x Very slender leaves, not in flower, on wall Cortia depressa Apiaceae x x x Low plant, short styles, oblong pinnate leaves, white-purplish flowers; short turf and open areas; frequent Cortiella hookeri Apiaceae x Stemless plant, pinnate leaves with short ultimate leaf segments; open turf and among boulders; rare-local Cortiella sp. Apiaceae x Indeterminable Eriocycla nuda Apiaceae x Seseli nudum. Slender white fl, plant ca. 50 cm, very similar to moon carrot on English chalk; dry grassland; rare Heracleum candicans Apiaceae x x Large white hogweed up to 1 m tall, large leaves, dense white umbels; damp grassland and by streams; locally common Pleurospermum cf. nanum Apiaceae x Small low plants, white or purplish fl, purple anthers, reduced stem, lvs fine, 2-3 pinnate; grassland & heath; rare Pleurospermum hadinii Apiaceae x x Striking dwarf rosette, white petals with some purplish-red; open areas, bare soil by paths, and in scree; local Arisaema flavum Araceae x x Lhasa area; yellow Ajania purpurea Asteraceae x Attractive purple-flowered plant with grey leaves; rare Ajania tibetica Asteraceae x x = Tanacetum tibeticum; attractive grey-leaved yellow-flowered plant; open waste ground; rare Tall, slender plant up to 30 cm, woody at base, stems tomentose, narrow lanceolate leaves, margins recurved; dry steppe; very Anaphalis contorta (tenella) Asteraceae x rare Flat mats of +/- silky grey narrow leaves with 1 vein, white flowers on very short stems, pointed phyllaries; open areas and Anaphalis nepalensis var. monocephala Asteraceae x x x x summit ground; frequent Anaphalis nepalensis var. nepalensis Asteraceae x x Like A. nepalensis var. monocephala but with wide silky grey leaves; open turf; local Anaphalis triplinervis Asteraceae x Like A. nepalensis with leaves 3 or 5 veined, large dense white flower heads; turf; rare Anthemis cf. flaccidus Asteraceae x Medium-sized Anthemis; rare Anthemis cotula Asteraceae x Small white Anthemis, finely divided leaves; rare Anthemis flaccidus Asteraceae x Medium-sized Anthemis; rare Artemisia cf. gmelinii Asteraceae x Non-descript tall mugwort; rare Artemisia cf. wallichiana Asteraceae x Non-descript tall mugwort, little silver in foliage; rare Artemisia frigida Asteraceae x x x Small silver-leaved mugwort, looks like American A. frigida; open dry areas; rare Artemisia macrocephala Asteraceae x Low-growing grey subshrub, flat leaves with 5 lobes per division; dry slopes, moraine slopes, and screes; occasional Artemisia minor Asteraceae x Dwarf subshrub, bisexual flowers, hairy flowers & receptacle; dry slopes; local Tall slender shrubby mugwort, coarsely divided basal leaves, slender stem leaves, very small inflorescences; steppe and scree Artemisia roxburghiana Asteraceae x x x slopes; rare Artemisia santolinifolia Asteraceae x x Tall worm-wood or sage-brush on very dry slopes; locally common Artemisia sp. Asteraceae x Indeterminable Artemisia stracheyi Asteraceae x x Tall wormwood with fern-like dissected leaves; open scree; frequent Artemisia wellbyi Asteraceae x Tall wormwood with drooping fl heads; steppe and dry scree slopes; locally abundant Aster asteroides Asteraceae x Small elegant Aster with short stem, dense pink flowers; moist turf; local Aster cf. flaccidus Asteraceae x Attractive Aster with crispy foliage; loal Aster cf. tsarungensis Asteraceae x Medium (20 cm), large basal leaves with hairy margins; turf; rare Aster sp. Asteraceae x Indeterminable 4 5 7a 7b 7c 7d 7e 8a 8b 8c 9 10

18 Latin Name Family Notes Cicerbita roborowskii Asteraceae x Tall pale-blue Lactuca in scree, loose flower heads; rocky scree; local Short stems (up to 7 cm), pale yellow drooping flowers, ovate-elliptic bluntly toothed leaves; growing in moss amidst boulders; Cremanthodium ellisii Asteraceae x very rare. Like Yoshida's (2005) Cremanthodium sp.a Cremanthodium oblongatum Asteraceae x Short stems (up to 5 cm), single yellow flowers, oblong-ovate leaves; in short turf; local on Samchung La Dwarf plant with large fls; in bare summit rocks and fine scree; very rare. Included in C. ellisii by Yoshida (2005) but distinct in its Cremanthodium purpureifolium Asteraceae x scree habitat but see FOB - a complex! Crepis flexuosa Asteraceae x Variable Crepis with finely divided leaves, flowers up to 5 cm tall; amidst rocks in steppe; rare Dolomiaea macrocephalus Asteraceae x x Large broad rosette of divided leaves, dull purple flowers; local Dubyaea hirsuta Asteraceae x Tall yellow Lactuca-type plant (= L. dubyaea) with yellow flowers on divided stalks, hirsute stalks; streamsides and grassland; rare Erigeron multiradiatus Asteraceae x x Attractive tall Erigeron in damp herb-rich grassland; rare Heteropappus altaicus Asteraceae x Slender pink aster with sizeable basal root; dry areas; rare Hippolytia gossypina Asteraceae x x = Tanacetum gossypinum; silver foliage, yellow flowers not fully out; amidst boulders; local Leontopodium brachyactis Asteraceae x x x V similar to other Leontopodium, possibly overlooked; rare Leontopodium himalayanum Asteraceae x x x Large inflorescence 2-4 x capitula cluster, tufted plant; turf; frequent Leontopodium jacotianum Asteraceae x x x Stems > 6 cm, stoloniferous mats, fl inflorescence pointed and often recurved down; screes and open turf; frequent Leontopodium leontopodinum Asteraceae x x x x x Very close to European L. alpinum; turf; local Leontopodium monocephalum Asteraceae x Short flowering stems, bracts very hairy, brown capitula; open areas, turf, & stable screes; frequent Leontopodium nanum Asteraceae x x x Flat grey silky mats and low cushions, very small sessile flowers; summit areas; rare Leontopodium sp. Asteraceae x Indeterminable Leontopodium stracheyi Asteraceae x Leaves & stems with glandular hairs, tall stems up to 30 cm, flowers with pink or brown phyllaries; screes and dry areas; local Ligularia cremanthoides Asteraceae x Excellent name - looks like a Cremanthodium! Cordate toothed leaves, several capitula; amongst rocks; v rare Ligularia rumicifolia Asteraceae x x Tall with large heart-shaped leaves like large Rumex aquaticus; grassland; local Ligularia virgaurea Asteraceae x Tall slender plant with small inflorescences; rare Pseudognaphalium affine Asteraceae x x Yellow flowers, lanceolate leaves, looks like a Helichrysum Pulicaria insignis Asteraceae x x x x x Large yellow Inula-like plant on dry steep rocks; locally common Saussurea sp.1 Asteraceae x x Felted linear leaves, purple flowers; indeterminable Saussurea sp.2 Asteraceae x Felted spathulate leaves with undulate edges, purple flower with scape; indeterminable Saussurea sp.3 Asteraceae x Felted divided leaves; indeterminable Saussurea andersonii Asteraceae x Like S. gnaphaloides but more divided foliage Saussurea cf. sericea Asteraceae x Silver glandular leaves Saussurea cf. gnaphaloides Asteraceae x Like S. gnaphaloides but not a perfect match Saussurea gnapholodes Asteraceae x x Dwarf stemless plant with pale to deep mauve flowers, shiny leaves; summit areas; local Characteristic 'snow-ball' plant of high ground but very variable depending on age and exposure; open rocky areas, screes, and Saussurea gossipiphora Asteraceae x summit ground; local Saussurea kingii Asteraceae x Stemless purple flowers, prostrate rosette of Taraxacum-like leaves Saussurea obvallata Asteraceae x Tall conspicuous plant, seen from distance only 4 5 7a 7b 7c 7d 7e 8a 8b 8c

19 Latin Name Family Notes Saussurea prostrata Asteraceae x Creeping plant, hairy leaves, small inflorescences; rare Saussurea purpurescens Asteraceae x Rather non-descript small Saussurea; rare Saussurea sp.4 Asteraceae x Distinct in several characters but not determinable. May be a newly described species or an undescribed sp.; dry areas; very rare Saussurea uniflora Asteraceae x Tall plant with broad yellow or purple upper leaves/bracts; wet areas; rare Senecio laetus (chrysanthemoides) Asteraceae x Tall yellow with many smaller capitula, very variable; damp grassland; rare Soroseris cf. erysimoides Asteraceae x Immature plants hard to distinguish from S. hookeriana; open turf; very rare Soroseris glomerata Asteraceae x Entire lf margins, much smaller lvs than S.erysimoides. Anthers dark Soroseris hirsuta Asteraceae x x x Deeply toothed leaves, plants stemless even when old; locally frequent Soroseris hookeriana Asteraceae x Shallowly or deeply pinnatifid, also entire leaves on same plant. Flowering spike elongates with age Soroseris pumila Asteraceae x x x x Small rosette, brownish-pink leaves; rare Taraxacum leucanthum Asteraceae x Small yellow dandelion, much lobed leaves; turf; local Taraxacum sikkimense Asteraceae x Small pale yellow-white dandelion, simple barely toothed leaves; turf; local Youngia depressa Asteraceae x x Dwarf yellow Crepis-like plant, +/- stemless, indistinctly lobed leaves; steppe; very rare Youngia gracilipes Asteraceae x x Dwarf yellow Crepis-like plant, stemless, bluntly lobed leaves; dry soils in steppe; rare Berberis cf. angulosa Berberidaceae x Shrub up to 1.5 m, brown stems strongly grooved, herbaceous leaves; steppe and dry heath areas; locally frequent; nasty! Berberis sp.1 Berberidaceae x Clustered flower remnants, shrub, long spines; occasional; many possible species; very nasty! Betula utilis Betulaceae x Easily identifiable tree; bark whitish to pinkish; locally common & v variable in bark colour Incarvillea younghusbandii Bignoniaceae x x Very variable (leaflets 3-8 pairs) & a wide range of habitats and altitudes; always dry, open, well-drained sites; rare Cynoglossum amabile Boraginaceae x Waste areas; local Cynoglossum furcatum (zeylanicum) Boraginaceae x Inflorescence widely branched; local Cynoglossum glochidiatum Boraginaceae x x x x Dark blue hound's tongue; waste areas and field margins; local Eritrichium canum Boraginaceae x Loose cushions with pale blue or white flowers; open dry areas; rare Eritrichium lasiocarpum Boraginaceae x Loose cushions with pale blue flowers; dry turf; rare Eritrichium laxum Boraginaceae x x x x x Small mounds of blue & white flowers with a yellow eye. Small hairy ovate leaves; local Lasiocaryum munroi Boraginaceae x x x x Dwarf forget-me-not, basal leaves forming rosette, pale blue or white fl; open damp areas; rare; = Eritrichium monroi Microulia cf. younghusbandii Boraginaceae x 25 cm tall hairy forget-me-not, lanceolate leaves; dry slopes; rare Microulia sikkimensis Boraginaceae x Tall plant, broad leaves; rare Microulia tibetica Boraginaceae x Small forget-me-not like plant; rare Myosotis alpestris ssp. asiatica Boraginaceae x x European alpine forget-me-not on Ben Lawers, etc; grassland & amongst rocks; rare. Called M. sylvatica in error. Onosma hookeri var. longiflorum Boraginaceae x x Blue, purple, or light purple-red long corolla, hairy stems; dry areas and soil banks; local. Not O. waddellii Onosma waltonii Boraginaceae x x Deep blue flowers, hairy 15 cm tall plant; screes; local. Thought originally to be a large Microulia Trigonotis rockii Boraginaceae x Low-growing forget-me-not, light blue-purple flowers; dry soil amongst rocks; very rare Trigonotis tibetica Boraginaceae x Short, many branched stems, light blue flowers; dry open waste areas; rare Capsella bursa-pastoris Brassiaceae x Weed; local Christolea (Desidera) himalayensis Brassiaceae x = Ermania himalayensis. Small densely hairy plants, yellowish-white petals tinged with purple; screees; very rare Christolea cocciana Brassiaceae x x Non-descript plant, similar to C. crassifolia but smaller; rare Christolea crassifolia Brassiaceae x x x x Small white fls, lvs spathulate, leathery, pubescent margins; dry open screes; v rare 4 5 7a 7b 7c 7d 7e 8a 8b 8c

20 Latin Name Family Notes = Parrya pumila = Solms-laubachia pumila. Very small stemless plant, small white flowers, linear lanceolate fruits, forked leaf Christolea pumila Brassiaceae x x x trichomes; screes; very rare = Taphrospermum fontanum spp. fontanum. Very small white flowers, glabrous entire or obscurely toothed leaves; damp finegrained Dilophia fontana Brassiaceae x scree and soily crevices; very rare Draba senilis Brassiaceae x Yellow tufts, elliptic leaves with long stalked trichomes, several flowers (7-10) in raceme; rock crevices; rare Draba sikkimensis Brassiaceae x Loose tufts, white flowers, ovate petals, stem leaves; very rare Megacarpaea delavayi Brassiaceae x Like a large pink Cardamine; rare Solms-laubachia cf. eurycarpa Brassiaceae x In fruit only; rare Solms-laubachia retropilosa Brassiaceae x Very small plants, 1-2 leaves per stem, broad leaves with striking hairs, minute white fl; open damp soil; very rare Callitriche stagnalis Callitrichaceae x Water starwort; in running water; rare Adenophora lillifolioides Campanulaceae x x Tall with slender pale blue flowers; rare Campanula aristata Campanulaceae x Slender tall plant, with delicate pale blue nodding flowers, scrub; rare Campanula pallida Campanulaceae x In walls and rocky areas; hairy blunt-toothed leaves; rare Codonopsis thalictrifolia Campanulaceae x Large knipped flowers with reddish purple veins flared at mouth; often amongst Rhododendron in heaths; local Codonopsis vinciflora Campanulaceae x Twining plant with rotate corolla; amidst Juniperus and Myricaria on river gravels and in scrub; rare Cyananthus incanus Campanulaceae x Glabrous calyx, blue flowers, perennial, variable; open areas in heaths & steppe; locally common Cyananthus leiocalyx Campanulaceae x Very small, blue flowers, dense foliage; rare Cyananthus lobatus Campanulaceae x x Dark densely hairy calyx, lobed leaves; open areas; rare or overlooked Cyananthus pedunculatus Campanulaceae x Dark densely hairy calyx, leaves not lobed; local in open heath and amidst rocks Arenaria bryophylla Caryophyllaceae x x x x Dense small cushions like A. edgeworthiana but smaller white flowers; open alpine areas and cliff crevices; local. Arenaria cf. pseudostellaria Caryophyllaceae x Small & grotty - a minute Arenaria looking like a minute Stellaria! Rare Arenaria ciliolata Caryophyllaceae x x x x Tufted perennial, leaves sharply acuminate with hairs, large white flowers; dry open areas including steppe; local Large cushions, linear tight leaves, large white flowers; steppe, dry areas with Androsace tapete, and open areas; common (tight Arenaria edgeworthiana Caryophyllaceae x x x x large) Loose tufts with pale or deep pink or white flowers; very variable; open areas and screes; local; plant that was very puzzling Arenaria glanduligera Caryophyllaceae x because of its variability Arenaria kansuensis Caryophyllaceae x Cushions with large white flowers on short (4-5 mm) villous pedicels; narrow glabrous sepals; open areas; very rare Arenaria melandryiformis Caryophyllaceae x Similar in growth to A. melandryoides (also too similar in name!) but white or pink petals; open turf; v rare Arenaria melandryoides Caryophyllaceae x Bright pink-purple flowers, no cushions, creeping stems with leathery elliptic leaves; open stony areas; local Arenaria polytrichoides Caryophyllaceae x x Very tight cushions, leaves with sharp point, small white flowers; open summit areas; rare Arenaria sp. Caryophyllaceae x x Indeterminable Cerastium fontanum ssp. grandiflorum Caryophyllaceae x Like European C. fontanum (common mouse-ear) but annual and large petals; open waste ground; rare Cerastium furcatum Caryophyllaceae x Small mouse-ear; rare Sagina procumbens Caryophyllaceae x Common European weedy pearlwort; rare Sagina saginoides Caryophyllaceae x European alpine pearlwort; small 5-petalled white flowers; open areas; rare Silene esquamata Caryophyllaceae x Attractive pink with spathulate basal leaves; open areas; rare Silene gonosperma Caryophyllaceae x Similar to S. nigrescens but petals not exserted, dark petals; open areas; rare Silene namlaensis Caryophyllaceae x Like S. nigrescens but four lobed petals; open rocky areas in heath and summit ground; rare 4 5 7a 7b 7c 7d 7e 8a 8b 8c

21 Latin Name Family Notes Silene nigrescens Caryophyllaceae x x Inflated calyx with dark purple ribs, pink petals exserted 4-5 mm; open areas and rock crevices; rare Lax or loose tufts, hairy stems, acuminate stiff leaves, deeply bifid white petals; damp open areas; locally common. This plant Stellaria decumbens Caryophyllaceae x x x x does not have deeply bifid petals Axyris prostrata Chenopodiaceae x x Low growing non-flowering but fruiting mat in waste areas; local 4 5 7a 7b 7c 7d 7e 8a 8b 8c 9 10 Chenopodium album Chenopodiaceae x European fat-hen; rare Chenopodium nepalense Chenopodiaceae x Not dissimilar to European Chenopodium album (fat-hen) on nitrogen-rich sites near habitations; rare Salsola cf. collina Chenopodiaceae x Prostrate dull weed; rare Cuscuta chinensis Convolvulaceae x Dodder; scrambing over shrubs; rare Rhodiola bupleuroides Crassulaceae x x Like European Rhodiola rosea in size and leaf but red flowers; in open turf; occasional Rhodiola crenulata Crassulaceae x Very large plants with deep pink or red flowers, toothed leaves; big patches on stable screes; frequent Rhodiola cretinii ssp. cretinii Crassulaceae x Small low-growing plant with aerial shoots emerging from subterranean creeping shoots, yellow or red flowers; wet flushes and open ground; frequent Rhodiola kirilowi Crassulaceae x Medium, yellow-flowered rose-root; rare Rhodiola serrata Crassulaceae x x Medium, yellow-flowered rose-root with serrate leaf margins; rare Rhodiola smithii Crassulaceae x x x x x Very small white-flowered stonecrop in open gravel; open ground; rare Rhodiola sp. Crassulaceae x Indeterminable Sedum gagei Crassulaceae x Small yellow flowered stonecrop with pointed leaves; open rocky area; very rare Sedum glaeobosum Crassulaceae x x Small yellow stonecrop; very rare Sedum multicaule Crassulaceae x Small yellow stonecrop, a look-alike to S. acre; rare Sedum sp.1 Crassulaceae x Small yellow stonecrop, too immature to determine; dry crevices; rare? S. oreades Juniperus communis ssp. alpina Cupressaceae x Dwarf juniper as in Europe, difficult to separate from J. squamata; v rare in Kharta area, maybe its easternmost locality Juniperus indica Cupressaceae x Black juniper; common shrub, often by houses or monastries; leaves dimorphic, needle-like & blunt imbricate Juniperus squamata Cupressaceae x Prostrate shrub with compact growth; pointed leaves; locally common Juniperus tibetica Cupressaceae x Subalpine bush, similar to J. indica; mainly in Lhasa area Carex incurva Cyperaceae x x Common in open areas and alpine turf Carex microglochin Cyperaceae x Very rare Scottish sedge; flushes; rare Isolepis setacea Cyperaceae x Minute; damp open areas of mud; rare Kobresia prainii Cyperaceae x x x x x Non-descript; grazed areas; local Kobresia pygmaea Cyperaceae x x x x x x x x Minute; probably the commonest plant seen; dominant plant of all Tibetan turf; widespread Kobresia schoenoides Cyperaceae x x Tall, Schoenus-like; wet areas and river alluvium; local Kobresia simpluiscula Cyperaceae x British Kobresia; tallish; rare Diplarche multiflora Diapensiaceae x Dwarf decumbent shrub 4-5 cm, branches glandular pubescent, linear leaves, 3-6mm long, white-pale pink flowers, in head, lower 5 stamens attached above base of corolla tube; open areas and scree; very rare. Acanthocalyx chinensis Dipsacaceae x x x White or pale yellow flowers in whorls, leaves with stiff spines; rocky areas in steppe; very rare Acanthocalyx delavayi Dipsacaceae x Pink flowers, entire leaves with small bristles on edges; grassland; rare Pterocephalus hookeri Dipsacaceae x x x x x x Scabiosa-type plant with white or pink globose heads; grassland; local Hippophae rhamnoides Elaeagnaceae x x European sea-buckthorn; 2-3 m tall, narrow leaves; rocky areas; rare Hippophae tibetana Elaeagnaceae x Low shrub, up to 1 m tall; river alluvium and rocky slopes; local Ephedra gerardiana Ephederaceae x Local in dry areas and heath 11

22 Latin Name Family Notes Ephedra saxatilis Ephederaceae x Slender; rare on very dry ground Cassiope fastigiata Ericaceae x Erect familiar dwarf-shrub, white petals; heaths; locally common Gaultheria trichophylla Ericaceae x Prostrate evergreen dwarf-shrub, only seen with its deep blue fruits; heaths; rare,? overlooked Rhododendron anthopogon ssp. anthopogon Ericaceae x Small aromatic shrub, flowers in dense racemes, white, pink or yellow; heaths; common. All seems to be ssp. anthopogon Rhododendron lepidotum Ericaceae x Subshrub, small yellow, white or pink flowers; heaths; very common Rhododendron nivale Ericaceae x Dwarf shrub, small lilac-mauve flowers; heaths; common Rhododendron setosum Ericaceae x x Subshrub, pale-deep purple largish flowers, calyx deeply 5-lobed; heaths; common Euphorbia stracheyi Euphorbiaceae x Striking low-growing spurge in a range of habitats; common Astragalus alpinus Fabaceae x British and Scandinavian alpine vetch; rare Astragalus confertus Fabaceae x Flat minute grey leaves, small deep purple flowers; open areas; rare Astragalus densiflorus Fabaceae x Pioneer plant on scree; rare Astragalus donianus Fabaceae x Prostrate with small purple flowers; open ground; frequent/rare Astragalus lasaensis Fabaceae x V small plant, small purple flowers; rare Astragalus monticolus Fabaceae x x x x x x Flat cushion, sparse hairy leaves, purple flowers and smooth pods; dry steppe areas; rare Astragalus orbicularifolius Fabaceae x Attractive flat plant with delicate foliage and purple/white flowers; rare Astragalus pulvinatus Fabaceae x Cushion with long spines and hairy pods; steppe; rare Astragalus rigidulus Fabaceae x Purple globular flower heads, spreading branches; open ground and short turf; local Astragalus strictus Fabaceae x x Common erect blue plant; local Caragana jubata Fabaceae x Spiny +/- erect shrub, leaves with dense woolly hairs; dry areas; common Gueldenstaedtia himalaica Fabaceae x x x Low-growing perennial with silky pinnate leaves and mauve flowers; local in alpine areas Oxytropis lapponica Fabaceae x Scandinavian, purple flowers, flat on ground; local Oxytropis melanocalyx Fabaceae x Pale yellow flower, flat plant with many leaflets; damp areas; occasional Prostrate, low cushion, small leaved with Galium-like arrangement, pink-pale purple flowers, glandular flat pods; open areas; Oxytropis microphylla Fabaceae x rare Oxytropis sericopetala Fabaceae x Stems up to 15 cm, silver leaves, dull purple flowers; on open ground at 'comfort stop' 4 5 7a 7b 7c 7d 7e 8a 8b 8c 9 10 Spongiocarpella purpurea Fabaceae x Dense cushion, stemless or very short stem (<5 cm), many leaflets, yellow or purple flowers; open alpine areas; rare Vicia cracca Fabaceae x Common British vetch; rare Vicia tibetica Fabaceae x x Open dry scree slopes; purple flowers, 6-8 leaflet pairs; rare Corydalis cashmeriana Fumariaceae x x Small striking blue alpine species; local Corydalis crispa Fumariaceae x x Tall yellow Corydalis in scrub and open areas; locally abundant Corydalis dubia Fumariaceae x x See Magnus Lidén's determinations of photos on our website Corydalis hookeri s.l. Fumariaceae x See Magnus Lidén's determinations of photos on our website Corydalis imbricata Fumariaceae x See Magnus Lidén's determinations of photos on our website Corydalis inopinata Fumariaceae x See Magnus Lidén's determinations of photos on our website Corydalis jigmei Fumariaceae x x Within the C. cashmeriana group; blue flowers with some white or pale mauve; possibly overlooked Corydalis kingii Fumariaceae x See Magnus Lidén's determinations of photos on our website Corydalis mucronifolia Fumariaceae x See Magnus Lidén's determinations of photos on our website 12

23 Latin Name Family Notes Corydalis polygalina Fumariaceae x x Small yellow alpine species; rare Corydalis purpocalcarata Fumariaceae x See Magnus Lidén's determinations of photos on our website Corydalis rasimiriana ssp. brachycarpa Fumariaceae x See Magnus Lidén's determinations of photos on our website Corydalis sp.1 Fumariaceae x Tall yellow with green markings; rare Corydalis stracheyi Fumariaceae x See Magnus Lidén's determinations of photos on our website A small dull-white flowered plant of dry waste ground. Not H. pendulum (in Flora of Tibet) as this is not listed as being in China Hypecoum leptocarpum Fumariaceae x x x at all in Grey-Wilson's Poppies Comastoma pedunculatum Gentianaceae x Like a larger Gentianella tenella in Europe; rare 4 5 7a 7b 7c 7d 7e 8a 8b 8c 9 10 Gentiana atuntsiensis Gentianaceae x Tallish medium-sized Section Frigida gentian with deep blue corolla and purple calyx, elliptic basal leaves; short turf; rare Gentiana carinata Gentianaceae x Very small; rare Gentiana emodi Gentianaceae x Like G. urnula but leaf margins minutely papillate and rough; summit areas; very rare Gentiana micans Gentianaceae x Like G. verna; rare Gentiana prolata Gentianaceae x Cambridge blue trumpet gentian with dark stripes, narrow leaves; turf; very rare Gentiana recurvata Gentianaceae x Small blue, divided petals Gentiana tibetica Gentianaceae x Large plant, sessile pale yellow-yellow green flowers, growth form of G. cruciata - is in section Cruciata; turf; rare Gentiana urnula Gentianaceae x x x Curious square sets of grey-green leaves, very smooth margins, wonderful flowers; summit areas and screes; local Gentiana waltonii Gentianaceae x Large plant, long leaves, flowers with purple; rare Halenia elliptica Gentianaceae x Erect annual, pale blue or white corolla with spur at base of each lobe; turf & open areas; frequent Swertia hookeri Gentianaceae x Up to 150 cm tall, reddish purple or bronze flowers in pannicles forming whorls; damp turf & forest edges; frequent; very x conspicuous! Swertia multicaulis Gentianaceae x Blue 4-merous flowers, no main stem, flowers on numerous long peduncles; heath & grassland; locally common Geranium donianum Geraniaceae x Pink flowers, deeply divided leaves; heaths; frequent-local Geranium moupinense Geraniaceae x Attractive pink-purple species; mesic grassland at low altitudes; frequent Geranium orientali-tibeticum Geraniaceae x Dull pink flowers, barely divided large leaves; steppe; local Geranium refractoides Geraniaceae x Flowers inverted, pink flushed with mauve; grassland; rare Corallodiscus kingianus Gesneriaceae x x x x Shaded rocks, mainly dried up; peduncle densely rust-brown woolly Ribes glaciale Grossulariaceae x 2-5 m shrub, dark flowers; forest edges and hollows; rare Ribes orientale Grossulariaceae x 1-2 m shrub, glandular-hairy twigs, 3-5 lobed leaves; several habitats; local Iris clarkei Iridaceae x Alpine meadows; local Iris sp. Iridaceae x x Seed pod; indeterminable Juncus benghalensis Juncaceae x Like J. thomsonii but conspicuous anthers; wet areas; locally common Juncus castaneus Juncaceae x British mountain rush; occasional Juncus concinnus Juncaceae x Untidy rush, small white inflorescences; rare Juncus pseudocastaneus Juncaceae x = J. sikkimensis; wet flushes; rare; like J. castaneus in Scotland Juncus thomsonii Juncaceae x White inflorescence; wet places; common Juncus triglumis Juncaceae x Scottish alpine; flushes; rare Triglochin maritima Juncaginaceae x British salt-marsh species; rare Dracocephalum cf. tanguticum Lamiaceae x Tall blue, v similar to D. moldavica; perhaps the same 13

24 Latin Name Family Notes Dracocephalum heterophyllum Lamiaceae x White with pale mauve skull-cap-type in ditches and dry slopes; rare Dracocephalum moldavica Lamiaceae x Tall blue 'Penstemon-like' plant on road-side; rare Elsholtzia densa Lamiaceae x At village on monastery road; rare Elsholtzia eriostachya Lamiaceae x Yellow flowers, strong mint smell; open areas; rare Eriophyton wallichii Lamiaceae x x x x Very distinctive with ovate, very woolly leaves, flowers concealed by hairy lip; open screes; local Nepeta coerulescens Lamiaceae x x Tall up to 50 cm purple cat-mint, ovate-oblong leaves; dry scree slopes; local Nepeta discolor Lamiaceae x Dense hairy sessile purple flowers, tall up to 50 cm; dry rocky areas; very rare Phyllophyton (Marmoritis) nivale Lamiaceae x Round-leaved Nepeta with small purple flowers; scree; rare (=Marmoritis nivalis) Scutellaria cf. likiangensis Lamiaceae x Prostrate on scree. White flowers, blue in centre of lip Thymus linearis Lamiaceae x Showy thyme, forming large colourful patches in steppe and open dry areas; local Aletris gracilis Liliaceae x Look-a-like orchid; cm tall; local; pink - white Allium cf. sikkimensis Liliaceae x Small, pale blue flowers; grassland Allium fasciculatum Liliaceae x Pale white or green flowers; local; very variable in size Allium hookeri Liliaceae x White, very small; Thong La pass; not previously known this high in Tibet or Bhutan; may be an undescribed species Fritillaria cirrhosa Liliaceae x In seed only. Could be Lilium nanum? Lilium nanum Liliaceae x Creamy white-lemon flowers; alpine heath; rare Lloydia serotina var. parva Liliaceae x Minute version of L. serotina; about 2 cm tall Polygonatum hookeri Liliaceae x Dwarf plant; purple; very rare Jasminium officinale Oleaceae x White fragrant flowers Epilobium royleanum Onagraceae x Small willowherb with pubescent stems & leaves with petioles, small pink notched flowers; wet open, often disturbed areas; rare Epilobium sikkimense Onagraceae x Small 5-10 cm pink willowherb in alpine habitats such as river gravels, streamsides, & flushes; local Epilobium williamsii Onagraceae x Small 4-5 cm alpine willow-herb; rose-purple petals, much branched from base; wet flushes and by lakes; rare Chusua pauciflora Orchidaceae x Pink tri-lobed fl, single leaf; grassland and streamsides; local. Also det. P.J. Cribb Herminium monanthum Orchidaceae x Dwarf musk orchid; turf; rare Herminium monorchis Orchidaceae x British musk orchid; scrub and grassland; local Peristylus cocloceras Orchidaceae x White orchid in dwarf-shrub heath; rare Satyrium sp. Orchidaceae x Indeterminable Boschniakia himalaica Orobanchaceae x Yellowish-brown flowers, spike to 20cm Orobanche cernua var. hansii Orobanchaceae x Steppe; deep purple flowers; probably parasitic on shrubs or Artemisia. Well above recorded upper altitude in Flora of Tibet Meconopsis grandis Papaveraceae x Taller than M. simplicifolia, large branching blue inflorescence; damp grassland; rare Meconopsis horridula agg. Papaveraceae x x Lovely striking alpine 'blue poppy'; very variable in size & bristle density; locally common Meconopsis paniculata Papaveraceae x Large plant, yellow flowers; golden bristle-hair leaves; very local Maroon coloured tall plant in heath; local but frequent. A new species described by C. Grey-Wilson in The Alpine Gardener (June Meconopsis tibetica Papaveraceae x 2006). Not in flower Parnassia chinensis Parnassiaceae x x 5-10 cm tall, ovate leaves, almost entire white petals; damp turf; very rare 4 5 7a 7b 7c 7d 7e 8a 8b 8c 9 10 Parnassia delavayi Parnassiaceae x x 15 cm tall, ovate leaves, entire white petals; in damp moss; rare Parnassia palustris Parnassiaceae x British tall grass-of-parnassus 14

25 Latin Name Family 4 5 7a 7b 7c 7d 7e 8a 8b 8c 9 10 Parnassia pusilla Parnassiaceae x small Oxygraphis Parnassia sp. Parnassiaceae x Indeterminable Notes Small 2-3 cm tufted plant, ovate leaves, almost entire white petals; amongst moss between rocks; rare. Looked superficially like a Parnassia tenella Parnassiaceae x x Green or dull white petals, 10 cm tall; damp moss and rocks; very rare Plantago asiatica Plantaginaceae x Plantain; roadside; rare Plantago major Plantaginaceae x European plantain; waste areas Ceratostigma minus Plumbaginaceae x x Dwarf semi-shrub, 5-10 cm; cobalt blue fl; very dry sites; rare Ceratostigma ulicina Plumbaginaceae x x x Semi-prostrate shrub, deep blue flowers with red calyx, spathulate leaves with brown bristly margins; dry sites; local Deschampsia caespitosa Poaceae x European tufted hair-grass; damp grazed areas; rare Deschampsia flexuosa Poaceae x Common British hair-grass; local Festuca ovina Poaceae x Common fescue; grassland; very variable and frequent Festuca rubra Poaceae x British red fescue; grassland; locally frequent Festuca tibetica Poaceae x x Common fescue grass in alpine areas Phleum alpinum Poaceae x Scottish alpine Timothy grass; occasional Poa pagophila Poaceae x Like Scandinavian P. flexuosa; very rare Poa pratensis Poaceae x British Timothy grass; grassland; rare Poa sp. (viviparous) Poaceae x Like British P. alpina but not! Stipa mongholia Poaceae x Short spikelets; amongst shrubs; rare Stipa purpurea Poaceae x Dominant grass in dry areas Trisetum spicatum Poaceae x x European alpine grass; alpine heaths and screes; local Aconogonum polystachyum Polygonaceae x Tall cm shrub, angulate, showy white flowers; valley slopes; rare. Similar to A. tortuosum but larger Aconogonum tortuosum Polygonaceae x x x x x Divaricating branching herb-shrub, cm tall, dense white flowers; dry slopes; local Bistorta affinis Polygonaceae x Bright red flowers; locally common in open areas & heaths; v attractive Bistorta macrophylla Polygonaceae x x Broad flower spikes, pink; common in alpine heaths & grazed areas; great variation in leaf shape. There may be an undescribed high alpine form with narrow linear leaves Bistorta vaccinifolia Polygonaceae x x Trailing subshrub, greyish ovate leaves; not seen in flower; open areas in heath;?rare Bistorta vivipara Polygonaceae x European alpine bistort; short stems with white flowers, red bulbils in lower part of flower; alpine heaths; frequent Fagopyrum esculentum Polygonaceae x Buckwheat; cultivated Koenigia delicatula Polygonaceae x x Slender annual with flowers in axillary clusters, 5-10 cm tall; wet soaks and below springs; rare Koenigia islandica Polygonaceae x Iceland purslane of Skye, Mull, Iceland, Scandinavia, high Arctic, Rockies, & Patagonia; minute annual of open wet areas; rare Koenigia nepalensis Polygonaceae x Minute annual of wet open areas; ovate leaves with appressed hairs on both surfaces and acute tip; locally frequent in open damp areas Koenigia pilosa Polygonaceae x x Similar to K. nepalensis but leaf hairs whitish; wet areas; rare Oxyria digyna Polygonaceae x European mountain sorrel; ovate or orbicular leaves; damp fine-grained screes and amongst boulders; frequent Persicaria runcinata Polygonaceae x Red, creeping knotgrass; open areas Polygonum aviculare Polygonaceae x European knotgrass; weed of cultivated areas; rare Rheum acuminatum Polygonaceae x Up to 1 m tall, dark red flowers; alpine meadows and nitrogen-enriched areas; local Rheum globosum Polygonaceae x Dwarf plant with dense globose flowers, white flecked with red; open grassland; very rare 15

26 Latin Name Family Notes Rheum spiciforme Polygonaceae x x x Stemless, broad leaves; open dry scree; rare Rumex nepalensis Polygonaceae x Like European R. sanguineus; 1 m tall; damp grasslands; locally dominant Androsace bulleyana Primulaceae x Recurved rosettes of oblanceolate leaves, umbel >25 flowers, no stolons Androsace cf. mariae Primulaceae x =A. tibetica. Glabrous inner leaves, pink corolla. Det. D Zschummel Androsace cuttingii Primulaceae x x Small flower-rich cushions, pink corolla, Det. D Zschummel Androsace delavayi Primulaceae x x Beautiful tight cushions with long silky cilia on leaf margin, small stemless white flowers with yellow eye; open areas; rare Androsace graminifolia Primulaceae x Small grass-like leaves, tight heads of pink or white flowers on 1.5 cm long peduncles; rare Slender plant forming large mats, long peduncle with white or pink flower umbel heads, several flowers (4-10) per umbel; shrub; Androsace hookeriana Primulaceae x x local Androsace lehmannii Primulaceae x Large tight cushions with narrow leaves, white flowers with yellow eye; damp turf and rocky slopes; common 4 5 7a 7b 7c 7d 7e 8a 8b 8c 9 10 Androsace sublanata Primulaceae x Similar to A. hookeriana. Det. D Zschummel Androsace tapete Primulaceae x x x x Common cushion plant in dry areas, probably overlooked as much was not in flower, white sessile flowers turning pink with age with yellow or green eye; dry exposed areas; common Primula calderiana Primulaceae x Distinctive globular seed heads, saggitate leaves Primula capitata ssp. sphaerocephala Primulaceae x Head of numerous pendant pruple fl with yellow eye, leaves strongly white farinose beneath; rocky areas; very rare Primula primulina Primulaceae x Dwarf plant forming extensive patches, fl purpish-blue with dense tuft of white hairs in throat; wet areas; rare Conspicuous tall yellow plant of streamsides and wet areas; common. All seemed to be var. sikkimensis to about 4500 m, above Primula sikkimensis Primulaceae x x that plants were smaller and may be var. pudibunda Attractive common plant with ovate-elliptic leaves, stems 2-10 cm with 1-12 pink flowers with yellow eye; damp areas; locally Primula tibetica Primulaceae x x common/rare Asplenium aitchinsonii Pteridophyte x Very small fern in scree; rare Asplenium septentrionale Pteridophyte x British forked spleenwort; rocks; very rare Athyrium duthei Pteridophyte x Tall lady-fern; rocks; local Botrychium lunaria Pteridophyte x British Botrychium lunaria; locally frequent, especially in Cogarbo Valley Cheilanthes argentea Pteridophyte x White undersurface; walls; rare Cheilanthes cf. rufa Pteridophyte x Brown hairs; scree; rare Cryptogramma brunoniana Pteridophyte x x Parsley fern; rocks; rare Cryptogramma stellei Pteridophyte x Parsley fern; rocks; very rare Cystopteris fragilis Pteridophyte x British brittle bladder-fern; rock crevices; common Dryopteris acutodentata Pteridophyte x Male fern in Rhododendron heaths and screes; common Dryopteris barbigera Pteridophyte x Male fern; thick fronds; attractive; rocks; frequent Huperzia tibetica Pteridophyte x Clubmoss; alpine heath and rock crevices; rare Lepisorus waltonii Pteridophyte x Very small fern on shaded rocks in small gorge S of Lhasa; rare Polystichum lachenense Pteridophyte x Shield fern; tall; screes; rare Polystichum thomsonii Pteridophyte x Small shield fern; boulders; rare Woodsia elongata Pteridophyte x Alpine Woodsia; cliff crevices and screes; rare Aconitum cf. hookeri Ranunculaceae x x Blue Aconitum, small with divided leaves; rare Anemone demissa Ranunculaceae x White-blue anemone with several (3-6) flowers per stem; fibrous lf remains; heaths & grassland; locally common 16

27 Latin Name Family Notes Anemone rivularis Ranunculaceae x Variable white-blue anemone; branching flowering stems; damp areas; frequent Caltha palustris ssp. himalaica Ranunculaceae x King-cup; very variable; wet areas; local Clematis tibetana ssp. tibetana Ranunculaceae x x Thin sepals; rare Clematis tibetana ssp. vernayi var. dentata Ranunculaceae x x Dark-flowered, orange or bi-coloured; thick, leathery sepals; locally abundant Delphinium caeruleum Ranunculaceae x Untidy low-growing blue Delphinium; rare Delphinium kamaoensis Ranunculaceae x x Tall, blue flowered; local Delphinium thibeticum Ranunculaceae x Tall, blue flowered, flowers often pointing in one direction; rare Halerpestes tricuspis Ranunculaceae x Creeping yellow buttercup in wet flushes; 3-lobed leaves; local (Ranunculus) Ranunculus brotherusii Ranunculaceae x Small (up to 25 cm) yellow buttercup; divided basal leaves; rare Ranunculus pulchellus Ranunculaceae x x Common alpine yellow buttercup; up to 30 cm; basal leaves entire Ranunculus tanguticus Ranunculaceae x Small trifoliate leaves; rare Thalictrum alpinum Ranunculaceae x European alpine meadow-rue; small and indistinct flowers, leaves distinct; local in alpine turf Thalictrum cf. atriplex Ranunculaceae x Dull flowers; grey leaves; in bushes; rare Cotoneaster cf. microphyllus Rosaceae x x Low-growing prostrate shrub, elliptical or orbicular glossy green leaves, small scarlet fruits; open, well-drained sites; local European silverweed; solitary yellow fls, lvs interruptedly pinnate with large and small leaflets, silvery undersides; short turf and Potentilla anserina Rosaceae x open areas; common. Very variable and may include some records of P. lineata, P. leuconota and P. polyphylla = P. atrosanguinea, like P. saundersiana but more robust, leaflets always 3, yellow flowers, like a large European P. nivea; open Potentilla argyrophylla Rosaceae x areas on river gravel & riverbanks, amongst rocks, summit open areas; rare Low growing or small cushions with slender rhizomes, pinnate leaves. lateral leaves entire, small 1-5 yellow flowers; open rocky Potentilla bifurca Rosaceae x x x x x areas and grazed turf; rare? overlooked Potentilla cuneata Rosaceae x Three-foliate leaves, mat forming, small leaflets; open grassland, streamsides, rocky areas; frequent 4 5 7a 7b 7c 7d 7e 8a 8b 8c 9 10 Potentilla eriocarpa Rosaceae x Similar to P. cuneata but leaflets larger and deeply 3- or 5-toothed, petals bilobed; open rocky areas, rock crevices, and cliff ledges; rare Potentilla fruticosa Rosaceae x x x x Common shrubby-cinquefoil, low-growing shrub with bright yellow flowers; many habitats; common. Very variable. Probably includes var. fruticosa and var. arbuscula of Flora of China 9 Potentilla fruticosa var. pumila Rosaceae x x Dwarf version of P. fruticosa, tufted, slender stems; wind-exposed or high-alpine areas; rare Potentilla lineata Rosaceae x Non-stoloniferous, larger version of P. anserina, flowers in cymes not solitary; open grassland and meadows; local but? overlooked. Possibly P. josephiana in Ikeda & Ohba 1999 Potentilla peduncularis Rosaceae x Very large tufted version of P. anserina with regularly pinnate leaves and large flowers; grassland; local to very common. Called 'giant P. anserina' Potentilla polyphylla Rosaceae x Robust yellow flowered Potentilla; rare Potentilla saundersiana var. caespitosa Rosaceae x x x x Small herb with palmate 5-foliate leaves, solitary flowers; open alpine turf and summit areas; rare. Very similar to P. forrestii in Flora of Bhutan and European P. nivea Potentilla saundersiana var. = P. forrestii (nicer name!), like P. saundersiana var. caespitosa but leaves greyish green underneath, many small yellow flowers, Rosaceae x x x jacquemontii low herb; open alpine areas; very rare Erect shrub 1-3 m tall, creamy white flowers with 4(-5) petals; dry slopes & sheltered rocky areas; frequent. Very variable taxon Rosa sericea Rosaceae x x with var. sericea and var. pteracantha (broad prickles) Rosa sikangensis Rosaceae x Similar to R. sericea but smaller (1m); rare 17

28 Latin Name Family Notes Rubus sp. Rosaceae x Pink, indeterminable Sibbaldia procumbens var. UK & European, emblem of RBGE; low-growing herb, like a Potentilla but 5 stamens, small rather inconspicuous yellow flowers; Rosaceae x aphanopetala alpine turf on damp soils; frequent. Curiously not in FOT. European plant is var. procumbens Sorbus microphylla Rosaceae x Shrub or tree, leaves 1-pinnate with >12 pairs, sharply serrate, rose pink or white tinged pink flowers, white fruits; rare Sorbus reducta Rosaceae x Low shrub; rare Spiraea alpina Rosaceae x Low-growing (up to 50 cm) bush with branching stems, greyish-green small leaves, flowers white to pink; alpine heath; frequent Galium aparine var. echinospermum Rubiaceae x Familiar European cleavers; weed in fields & waste ground; rare, probably overlooked Galium sp.1 Rubiaceae x Poor material, not in flower; very rare Leptodermis microphylla Rubiaceae x x x 1 m high shrub with opposite leaves and prominent stipules; cliffs and gorges; very rare Leptodermis oblonga Rubiaceae x x Low shrub, elliptic leaves, pink or purple flowers; rare Leptodermis potanini var. glauca Rubiaceae x 1 m shrub, small glaucous leaves; rare Salix daltoniana Salicaceae x Tall willow in damp areas; rare Salix flabellaris Salicaceae x x Broad-leaved dwarf-willow; heaths and rocks; rare Salix lindleyana Salicaceae x Very small-leaved dwarf-willow; heaths; rare Salix pseudomyrsinites Salicaceae x Like European (and Scottish) S. myrsinites shrub; rare Salix serpyllum Salicaceae x Dwarf-willow; reddish tinge, broad leaves; glabrous; wet areas; rare Bergenia purpurascens Saxifragaceae x Large round leaves, pink flowers, mainly over; wet flushed areas & wet rocks; local Saxifraga cf. hookeri Saxifragaceae x x One of the very many small yellow Saxifrages; rare Saxifraga engleriana Saxifragaceae x Cushions with tight elliptic glabrous leaves, flowers yellow with orange or red spots; rock crevices & scree; rare Saxifraga glabricaulis Saxifragaceae x Loose tufts with yellow flowers +/- orange-red spots on short 1-2 cm gladular stems, dark sepals, ovate-lanceolate leaves, x ciliate; amidst rocks & open summit areas; rare Saxifraga hirculoides Saxifragaceae x Very like European S. hirculus except it grows in dry rock crevices instead of wet flushes! Saxifraga hirculus Saxifragaceae x European S. hirculus White petals with yellow spots, entire or mildly lobed leaf; damp areas; frequent. A very variable taxon with many chromosome Saxifraga melanocentra Saxifragaceae x numbers according to Flora of China Saxifraga pallida Saxifragaceae x Slender white fl like European S. stellaris, no coloured spots as in S. melanocentra; damp areas; rare Saxifraga saginoides Saxifragaceae x Tight cushions with small linear leaves, small solitary sessile yellow flowers; rock crevices, summit areas, open areas; local Saxifraga tangutica Saxifragaceae x x Tallish (5-10 cm) reddish-brown stems, orange-red flowers; open damp areas; local Loosely tufted plant with yellow flowers +/- orange spots on 2-4 cm stems, linear leaves with minute cilia along margin; rock Saxifraga unguiculata Saxifragaceae x crevices and cliffs; very rare, possibly overlooked Dense fruiting inflorescence very distinct, cm tall, flowers white with purple streaks, like E. scottica in UK; alpine turf; very Euphrasia chumbica Scrophulariaceae x rare Euphrasia jaeschkei Scrophulariaceae x Small annual eyebright, sparsely pubescent, middle lobe of flower wide; damp grassland; rare Small annual eyebright, like E. jaeschkei but middle lobe of flower narrow; grassland and streamsides; rare; = E. kingdon-wardii Euphrasia regelii ssp. kangtiensis Scrophulariaceae x (nicer name!) Lagotis integra Scrophulariaceae x Elongated blue-white inflorescence, leaf margins sparsely serrulate; rare 4 5 7a 7b 7c 7d 7e 8a 8b 8c

29 Latin Name Family Notes Very variable in size and flower colour, fleshy leaves, flowers blue or pale violet turning white; wet areas and damp scree; locally Lagotis kunawurensis var. sikkimensis Scrophulariaceae x frequent. Not in Flora of China or Flora of Tibet due to taxonomic revisions Low-growing herb with purple or violet-blue flowers on very short stem, paler near base of tube, lower lip paler than upper lip; Lancea tibetica Scrophulariaceae x damp grassland and open turf; local Oreosolon sp. Scrophulariaceae x x Indeterminable; species distinctions very unclear! Oreosolon unguiculatus Scrophulariaceae x x x Curious small yellow-flowered plant with large rosette of irregularly toothed leaves; open areas or summits; rare Pedicularis alaschanica ssp. tibetica Scrophulariaceae x Bright large lemon-yellow flowers on short (5-6 cm) stem, finely divided leaves; turf at comfort stop; rare Pedicularis anas ssp. anas Scrophulariaceae x x Pale pink-white flowers, dark stem cm, finely divided leaves; open areas, turf; local Pedicularis cheilanthifolia ssp. cheilanthifolia Scrophulariaceae x x x Beautiful low-growing plant, pale pink flowers at base, upper tube deep red; local Pedicularis croizatiana Scrophulariaceae x Spectacular small pure lemon-yellow plant, long floral tube; open turf and rocky areas; locally frequent Pedicularis globifera Scrophulariaceae x Low-growing (10 cm) plant, many short stems from base, pale pink flowers with deep pink-red upper tube; very dry sites; rare Pedicularis integrifolia ssp. integrifolia Scrophulariaceae x Short plant with deep purple flowers with long hooked tube; open turf; rare Pedicularis kansuensis Scrophulariaceae x x Tall pink, darker galea Pedicularis lachnoglossa Scrophulariaceae x x Medium, reddish flowers, prominent downward-pointing tube; local Pedicularis longiflora var. tubiformis Scrophulariaceae x Spectacular yellow fl +/- dark stripe on upper parts, very long tube, stems very short; wet areas; locally common Pedicularis megalantha Scrophulariaceae x Very tall and showy purple plant; grassland; locally common Pedicularis mollis Scrophulariaceae x x Tall ( cm), much branched plant with small deep purple flowers; grassland; very rare Pedicularis muscoides Scrophulariaceae x Very small low plant with cream white flowers; turf and open areas; local Low-growing plant with many dense, short (1-2 cm) pink flowering shoots above basal rosette of divided leaves; open turf and Pedicularis nana Scrophulariaceae x x summit areas; rare. Not in Flora of Tibet or Flora of China but is in northern Bhutan Attractive 5-8 cm tall plant, pale yellow corolla with some red or purple, distinctive basal leaves; short grassland or open turf; Pedicularis oederi ssp. oederi Scrophulariaceae x local Pedicularis pectinata Scrophulariaceae x Striking tall upright plant, dense pink flowers; local Pedicularis przewalskii ssp. australis Scrophulariaceae Like P. przewalskii ssp. przewalskii except leaf blades densely pubescent and flower deep purple-red throuhout; very small (2 x cm); rare Pedicularis roylei ssp. roylei Scrophulariaceae x Low-growing (up to 5 cm) small pink & white flowers, some hairs but not densely hairy; open grassland, and alpine heaths; x occasional Pedicularis rupicola Scrophulariaceae x 20 cm tall, multi-branched, bright purple-red flowers with tube bent at right angle at base; dry rocks; rare Pedicularis siphonantha Scrophulariaceae x Attractive small plant with long pink tubular flowers and charactersitic white markings on galea; open turf and gravel; frequent Pedicularis sp. Scrophulariaceae x Indeterminable Pedicularis trichoglossa Scrophulariaceae x Tall purple-mauve plant with 'hairy nose'; turf and heaths; local Verbascum thapsus Scrophulariaceae x European mullein; open areas, looking very much at home; locally common Veronica anagallis-aquatica Scrophulariaceae x Close to European V. anagallis-aquatica (blue water-speedwell) but may be V. oxycarpa; wet areas and pools; rare Veronica ciliata ssp. cephaloides Scrophulariaceae x Very small plant, large pubescent basal leaves, pale blue flowers with virtually no stem; open areas and amongst rocks; rare 4 5 7a 7b 7c 7d 7e 8a 8b 8c

30 Latin Name Family Notes Lycium chineum Solanaceae x Spiny shrub with lilac or purple flowers; rare Solanum virginianum Solanaceae x Purple potato-like plant, cultivated areas; local Daphne retusa Thymelaeaceae x x Low shrub, purplish flowers; rocky areas; rare Stellera chamaejasme Thymelaeaceae x x x x Surprisingly rare; dry areas; white with red tubes Common British stinging nettle; common below about 4000 m; mainly ssp. gracilis with large leaves and male flowers in lower Urtica dioica Urticaceae x x cymes Urtica hyperborea Urticaceae x Alpine nettle; screes and amongst rocks; broadly ovate leaves;?under-recorded or really rare Nardostachys jatamansi Valerianaceae x = N. grandiflora; rose-pink flowers, fragrant, narrow leaves; root is a substitute for valerian; mainly alpine grassland; common Viola biflora Violaceae x European alpine violet; yellow flowers; shady sites and in turf; rare Viola sp. Violaceae x Indeterminable 4 5 7a 7b 7c 7d 7e 8a 8b 8c Totals per column Totals per day

31 Table 4. List of species seen Zhang Shung La, Galu, Suga La, Cha La, Largen La, Ba La, 6, August 2009 areas north of Lhasa 21 Latin Name Family Notes Apiaceae indet. Apiaceae x Indeterminable Cortia depressa Apiaceae x x x x Low plant, short styles, oblong pinnate leaves, white-purplish flowers; short turf and open areas; frequent Cortia/Cortiella Apiaceae x Indeterminable Cortiella hookeri Apiaceae x Stemless plant, pinnate leaves with short ultimate leaf segments; open turf and among boulders; rare-local Cortiella sp. Apiaceae x Indeterminable Heracleum candicans Apiaceae x Large white hogweed up to 1 m tall, large leaves, dense white umbels; damp grassland and by streams; locally common Pleurospermum apiolens Apiaceae x x = Hymenidium apiolens. Conspicuous cm tall, finely divided leaves, large white umbels; grassland and rocky areas; local Pleurospermum cf. nanum Apiaceae x Small low plants, white or purplish fl, purple anthers, reduced stem, lvs fine, 2-3 pinnate; grassland & heath; rare Pleurospermum hadinii Apiaceae x x Striking dwarf rosette, white petals with some purplish-red; open areas, bare soil by paths, and in scree; local Pleurospermum hookeri Apiaceae x Short white umbel, finely divided leaves, glabrous; damp turf and grassland; local Pleurospermum sp.1 Apiaceae x x Indeterminable Pleurospermum sp.2 Apiaceae x Indeterminable Ajania purpurea Asteraceae x Attractive purple-flowered plant with grey leaves; rare Anaphalis nepalensis var. nepalensis Asteraceae x Like A. nepalensis var. monocephala but with wide silky grey leaves; open turf; local Artemisia rutifolia Asteraceae x Ruta-like leaves, purple flower; rare Artemisia wellbyi Asteraceae x Tall wormwood with drooping fl heads; steppe and dry scree slopes; locally abundant Aster asteroides Asteraceae x x Small elegant Aster with short stem, dense pink flowers; moist turf; local Aster cf. molliusculus Asteraceae x Tall pale Aster, one of many possibilities; rare Aster cf. stracheyi Asteraceae x Medium Aster; rare Aster flaccidus Asteraceae x Attractive pubescent medium-sized Aster, distinct basal leaves, very small reduced stem flowers; wet glacial silt; rare Aster himalaicus Asteraceae x x Short Aster with large flowers and basal leaves; damp turf; local Attractive short (5-15 cm) plant with broad spathulate basal leaves, sparsely pubescent, ray flowers 40-60, blue or mauve ligule, disc Aster souliei Asteraceae x x corollas yellow; open grassland, shrub & alpine turf; frequent Aster sp. Asteraceae x Indeterminable Aster stracheyi Asteraceae x x Medium Aster, attractive leaves; local Cirsium soulei Asteraceae x Common stemless thistle, leaves not dissimilar to European C. acaule, seen only in bud; turf; local Cremanthodium cf. campanulatum var. brachytium Asteraceae x Low-growing plant with kidney-shaped or orbicular leaves, not in full flower; rare Short stems (up to 10 cm), single yellow drooping flowers, characteristic reniform leaves; open wet areas, wet rocky areas, damp rock Cremanthodium decaisnei Asteraceae x crevices; frequent Short stems (up to 7 cm), pale yellow drooping flowers, ovate-elliptic bluntly toothed leaves; growing in moss amidst boulders; very rare. Cremanthodium ellisii Asteraceae x x x Like Yoshida's (2005) Cremanthodium sp.a Cremanthodium oblongatum Asteraceae x Short stems (up to 5 cm), single yellow flowers, oblong-ovate leaves; in short turf; local on Samchung La 6a 6b

32 Latin Name Family Notes Dwarf plant with large fls; in bare summit rocks and fine scree; very rare. Included in C. ellisii by Yoshida (2005) but distinct in its scree Cremanthodium purpureifolium Asteraceae x habitat but see FOB - a complex! Cremanthodium sp. Asteraceae x Indeterminable Dolomiaea calyophylla Asteraceae x Rosette of divided leaves, red stalks, dull purple flowers; rare Hippolytia syncalathiformis Asteraceae x Attractive short-stemmed plant with frey foliage; rare Leontopodium brachyactis Asteraceae x V similar to other Leontopodium, possibly overlooked; rare Leontopodium leontopodinum Asteraceae x x x x Very close to European L. alpinum; turf; local Leontopodium monocephalum Asteraceae x x Short flowering stems, bracts very hairy, brown capitula; open areas, turf, & stable screes; frequent Leontopodium nanum Asteraceae x x Flat grey silky mats and low cushions, very small sessile flowers; summit areas; rare Leontopodium pusillum Asteraceae x Similar in many ways to L. nanum but growing in the Himalaya, vaguely distinguished by filiform stolons and radiating bracts Leontopodium stracheyi Asteraceae x Leaves & stems with glandular hairs, tall stems up to 30 cm, flowers with pink or brown phyllaries; screes and dry areas; local Ligularia rumicifolia Asteraceae x Tall with large heart-shaped leaves like large Rumex aquaticus; dry grassland; local Pyrethrum tatsienense Asteraceae x Small Senecio-like plant, drooping yellow florets; grassland; rare 6a 6b Saussurea andersonii Asteraceae x x Like S. gnaphaloides but more divided foliage Saussurea andryaloides Asteraceae x x Small plant with irregularly toothed leaves; rare Saussurea cf. gyacaensis Asteraceae x Medium hairy plant, poor flowers; rare Saussurea cf. medusa Asteraceae x x Bought by Hilary Birks at summit of Mi La Pass from locals. Probably transported by the basket-load from Sichuan or Yunnan! S. medusa not convinvingly seen in the wild (only cf. medusa) - all poor specimens badly damaged Saussurea cf. pubescens Asteraceae x Hairy leaves, not in good flower; rare Saussurea cf. sericea Asteraceae x Short stemless plant with purple flowers, silky leaves; open summit ground; very rare Saussurea cf. taraxicifolia Asteraceae x Taraxacum lvs - see S. taraxicifolia for details Saussurea cf. thoroldii Asteraceae x Rather featureless; rare Saussurea georgei Asteraceae x x Open areas; rare Saussurea globosa Asteraceae x Amongst boulders; rare Saussurea gnapholodes Asteraceae x Dwarf stemless plant with pale to deep mauve flowers, shiny leaves; summit areas; local Saussurea hieracioides Asteraceae x Short (5-10 cm) purple flowers, single stems; grassland; rare Saussurea hookeri Asteraceae x Tallish plant, slender leaves, hairy inflorescences; rare Saussurea inversa Asteraceae x Rather distinctive growth-form, hence name; rare Saussurea kotachaete Asteraceae x x Small, green irregularly toothed leaves, dull purple heads; local Saussurea namakawae Asteraceae x One of many 'ordinary' looking Saussurea; rare Saussurea prostrata Asteraceae x Creeping hairy plant; rare Saussurea pumila Asteraceae x Small and inconspicuous; rare Saussurea purpurescens Asteraceae x Rather striking bold flowers; rare 22

33 Latin Name Family Notes Short (up to 20 cm) polycarpic plant, leaf blade lanceolate cm wide, coarsely toothed, acute apex, florets blueish-purple, screes, very Saussurea quercifolia Asteraceae x rare Saussurea salwinensis Asteraceae x x x One of many 'ordinary' looking Saussurea; rare Saussurea sp. Asteraceae x x Indeterminable Saussurea sp.2 Asteraceae x x Thin leaves,?s. graminifolia, not sure Saussurea stella Asteraceae x Distinctive stemless plant with thin leaves; rare Saussurea taraxacifolia Asteraceae x V. small plant with purple head within dandelion-like leaves, short turf, v. rare Saussurea thomsonii Asteraceae x Flat in turf and scree; rare Saussurea wardii Asteraceae x x Shortish (20 cm) simple purple head on stem, basal leaves dandelion-like, well indented, open dry turf, rare Saussurea wernerioides Asteraceae x x Matt of green leaves with purple flowers dotted over surface; summit areas; local Senecio albopurpurea Asteraceae x Stemless; rare Senecio laetus (chrysanthemoides) Asteraceae x x x Tall yellow with many smaller capitula, very variable; damp grassland; rare Senecio thianschanicus Asteraceae x Medium yellow; rare Soroseris erysimoides Asteraceae x Entire lf margins, almost no hairs, dull yellow fl, almost stemless; very rare Soroseris glomerata Asteraceae x x Oval grey felted leaves, sometimes toothed or entire, much smaller lvs than S.erysimoides. Anthers dark Soroseris hirsuta Asteraceae x x Deeply toothed leaves, plants stemless even when old; locally frequent Soroseris hookeriana Asteraceae x Shallowly or deeply pinnatifid, also entire leaves on same plant. Flowering spike elongates with age Soroseris pumila Asteraceae x Small rosette, brownish-pink leaves; rare Soroseris sp.1 Asteraceae x Not in flower. Indeterminable Soroseris sp.2 Asteraceae x Indeterminable Syncalathium roseum Asteraceae x x x x Like an acaulous Soroseris with pink flowers; locally common Taraxacum eriopodum Asteraceae x x x Small white dandelion with hairy leaves; turf; local Taraxacum leucanthum Asteraceae x x Small yellow dandelion, much lobed leaves; turf; local Taraxacum sikkimense Asteraceae x Small pale yellow-white dandelion, simple barely toothed leaves; turf; local Taraxacum tibeticum Asteraceae x x x Small lemon-white dandelion, 10 cm tall, lobed leaves; open turf; rare Youngia depressa Asteraceae x Dwarf yellow Crepis-like plant, +/- stemless, indistinctly lobed leaves; steppe; very rare Youngia gracilipes Asteraceae x Dwarf yellow Crepis-like plant, stemless, bluntly lobed leaves; dry soils in steppe; rare Youngia stebbinsiana Asteraceae x = Y. gracilis in Flora of Tibet 4, p 968. Tall yellow Crepis-like plant with leafy stems, capitula loosely corymbose; streamsides; very rare Berberis cf. angulosa Berberidaceae x x x Shrub up to 1.5 m, brown stems strongly grooved, herbaceous leaves; steppe and dry heath areas; locally frequent; nasty! Berberis cf. concinna Berberidaceae x Similar to B. cf. angulosa but leaves harder, stem less grooved; steppe; local; nasty! Incarvillea younghusbandii Bignoniaceae x Very variable (leaflets 3-8 pairs) & a wide range of habitats and altitudes; always dry, open, well-drained sites; rare Chionocharis hookeri Boraginaceae x x x Wonderful large cushion plant with Eritrichium-blue flowers; wind exposed ridges; rare. Not in flower Cynoglossum amabile Boraginaceae x x Waste areas Eritrichium canum Boraginaceae x x Loose cushions with pale blue or white flowers; open dry areas; rare 6a 6b

34 Latin Name Family Notes Eritrichium laxum Boraginaceae x x x Small mounds of blue & white flowers with a yellow eye. Small hairy ovate leaves Lasiocaryum munroi Boraginaceae x x x x Dwarf forget-me-not, basal leaves forming rosette, pale blue or white fl; open damp areas; rare; = Eritrichium monroi Microcaryum pygmaeum Boraginaceae x x Minute hairy annual with pale blue or white flowers; fine scree; very rare; = Eritrichium pygmaeum Medium-sized indeterminable forget-me-not like plant; open areas and amongst boulders; rare. Cannot match with anything in Flora of Microulia sp.2 Boraginaceae x China, Flora of Bhutan, or RBGE herbarium - frustrating! Microulia tibetica Boraginaceae x x x x Small forget-me-not like plant; rare Trigonotis rockii Boraginaceae x x Low-growing forget-me-not, light blue-purple flowers; dry soil amongst rocks; very rare Trigonotis rotundifolia Boraginaceae x Attractive low-growing plant, roundish leaves; rare Trigonotis tibetica Boraginaceae x x x x Short, many branched stems, light blue flowers; dry open waste areas; rare Arabis pterosperma Brassiaceae x Small version of European Arabis alpina with more pubescent and pink fls; open summit areas and in screes; rare Braya tibetica Brassiaceae x Small purplish flowers, narrow oblanceolate leaves, forked hairs; open ground; v rare Christolea crassifolia Brassiaceae x x Small white fls, lvs spathulate, leathery, pubescent margins; dry open screes; v rare Draba alajica Brassiaceae x Small cushions with yellow flowers, leaves not ciliate; cliff crevices; very rare Draba altaica Brassiaceae x x Tall white-flowered, fruits not twisted, leaves with dense simple trichomes; open areas; local/rare Draba cf. bhutanica Brassiaceae x Tall 8 cm, clear stem leaves, ciliate basal leaves, pale yellow flowers; crevices; very rare Draba glomerata Brassiaceae x x Tufts with small acute white petals, hairy stems & fruits; open areas and screes; rare Draba oreades Brassiaceae x Attractive cushions with yellow flowers, leaves with simple trichomes; crevices and scree; rare Draba sp. Brassiaceae x In fruit. Indeterminable Malcolmia africana Brassiaceae x x Miserable small prostrate white-flowered (rarely pink) stock, sparsely pubescent; open summit areas; very rare Pegaeophyton minutum Brassiaceae x x Very small plants, small white fls, long thin irregularly lobed leaves; wet areas amongst rocks; very rare Pegaeophyton scapiflorum ssp. robustum Brassiaceae x Small herb, white petals up to 12 mm long, entire glabrous leaves, all basal leaves, flowers solitary; wet alpine rocks and crevices; rare Pegaeophyton scapiflorum ssp. scapiflorum Brassiaceae x Like ssp. robustum but smaller, petals about 5-7 mm, thin lvs; wet gravel; occasional. Very variable leaf shape Campanula argyrotricha Campanulaceae x x x Very small and inconspicuous amongst rocks Codonopsis vinciflora Campanulaceae x Twining plant with rotate corolla; amidst Juniperus and Myricaria on river gravels and in scrub; rare Cyananthus formosus Campanulaceae x V grey hoary leaves, prostrate; rare Cyananthus incanus Campanulaceae x x Glabrous calyx, blue flowers, perennial, variable; open areas in heaths & steppe; locally common Cyananthus leiocalyx Campanulaceae x Very small, blue flowers, dense foliage; rare Cyananthus lobatus Campanulaceae x Dark densely hairy calyx, lobed leaves; open areas; rare or overlooked Cyananthus microphyllus Campanulaceae x Leaves very small, hairy calyx; dry grassland; rare Cyananthus sp. Campanulaceae x Indeterminable Arenaria bryophylla Caryophyllaceae x x x x x x Dense small cushions like A. edgeworthiana but smaller white flowers; open alpine areas and cliff crevices; local. Arenaria ciliolata Caryophyllaceae x x x Tufted perennial, leaves sharply acuminate with hairs, large white flowers; dry open areas including steppe; local 6a 6b

35 Latin Name Family Notes Arenaria edgeworthiana Caryophyllaceae x x Large cushions, linear tight leaves, large white flowers; steppe, dry areas with Androsace tapete, and open areas; common (tight large) Arenaria eudonta Caryophyllaceae x Attractive pink flowers with long pointed petals; open ground; v. rare Arenaria glanduligera Caryophyllaceae x x x Loose tufts with pale or deep pink or white flowers; v variable; open areas & screes; local; plant very puzzling because of its variability Arenaria kansuensis Caryophyllaceae x x x Cushions with large white flowers on short (4-5 mm) villous pedicels; narrow glabrous sepals; open areas; very rare Arenaria melandryiformis Caryophyllaceae x x Similar in growth to A. melandryoides (also too similar in name!) but white or pink petals; open turf; v rare Arenaria melandryoides Caryophyllaceae x Bright pink-purple flowers, no cushions, creeping stems with leathery elliptic leaves; open stony areas; local Arenaria polytrichoides Caryophyllaceae x x x Very tight cushions, leaves with sharp point, small white flowers; open summit areas; rare Arenaria ramellata Caryophyllaceae x Small loose mats with large pink, more rarely white, flowers on v. short stems (2-3 cm), open river gravels & screes, rare Cerastium fontanum ssp. grandiflorum Caryophyllaceae x x Like European C. fontanum (common mouse-ear) but annual and large petals; open waste ground; rare Cerastium furcatum Caryophyllaceae x Small mouse-ear; rare Sagina saginoides Caryophyllaceae x European alpine pearlwort; small 5-petalled white flowers; open areas; rare Silene cf. nigrescens Caryophyllaceae x See S. nigrescens in Table 3 - poorly developed specimen Silene esquamata Caryophyllaceae x Attractive pink with spathulate basal leaves; open areas; rare Silene gonosperma Caryophyllaceae x x Similar to S. nigrescens but petals not exserted, dark petals; open areas; rare Silene nigrescens Caryophyllaceae x x x x Inflated calyx with dark purple ribs, pink petals exserted 4-5 mm; open areas and rock crevices; rare Stellaria congestifolia Caryophyllaceae x Like the frequent S. decumbens but with densely white lanate stems; wet areas amongst boulders; very rare Lax or loose tufts, hairy stems, acuminate stiff leaves, deeply bifid white petals; damp open areas; locally common. This plant does not Stellaria decumbens Caryophyllaceae x x x have deeply bifid petals Stellaria subumbellata Caryophyllaceae x x Like a well-grown European S. alsine but with thin linear leaves, small white flowers; damp areas; rare but easily overlooked Thylacospermum caespitosum Caryophyllaceae x Like 'vegetable sheep', tough solid cushions; no flowers, only buds; very open areas and fine screes; local Axyris prostrata Chenopodiaceae x x x x x Low growing non-flowering but fruiting mat in waste areas; local Chenopodium nepalense Chenopodiaceae x x Not dissimilar to European Chenopodium album (fat-hen) on nitrogen-rich sites near habitations; rare Rhodiola bupleuroides Crassulaceae x x x x Like European Rhodiola rosea in size and leaf but red flowers; in open turf; occasional Rhodiola cf. fastigiata Crassulaceae x x Small, narrow leaved, red flowers turning pink; rare Rhodiola chrysanthemifolia Crassulaceae x Unusual rose-root, almost stemless, ovate-oblong stem leaves, dark colouration throughout plant; v. rare Rhodiola coccinea Crassulaceae x x Small cushions with Saxifraga-type leaves, pale yellow-white flowers with red-pink centres; rock crevices; v rare Rhodiola crenulata Crassulaceae x Very large plants with deep pink or red flowers, toothed leaves; big patches on stable screes; frequent Rhodiola himalensis Crassulaceae x x Like a European Rhodiola rosea but medium size, narrow leaves, red fl; in turf & between rocks; frequent Rhodiola humilis Crassulaceae x Distinctive near prostrate plant, white flowers; rare Rhodiola kirilowi Crassulaceae x Medium, yellow-flowered rose-root; rare Rhodiola prainii Crassulaceae x x Dwarf, deep red; rare Rhodiola sacra Crassulaceae x x Small white or red flowers, Saxifraga look-a-like; rock crevices; very rare Rhodiola serrata Crassulaceae x Medium, yellow-flowered rose-root with serrate leaf margins; rare Rhodiola sherriffii Crassulaceae x Medium-sized rose-root, distinctive foliage, dull flowers; rare 6a 6b

36 Latin Name Family Notes Rhodiola sp. Crassulaceae x Indeterminable Rhodiola tibetica Crassulaceae x Robust plant, narrow leaves, dense red inflorescences; rare Sedum forrestii Crassulaceae x x x Small yellow-flowered stonecrop, ovate leaves; local Sedum prasinopetalum Crassulaceae x Medium yellow-flowered stonecrop, desne small flowers; rare Sedum roborowskii Crassulaceae x Small yellow stonecrop, dense foliage; rare Sedum sp.1 Crassulaceae x Small yellow stonecrop, too immature to determine; dry crevices; rare? S. oreades Juniperus squamata Cupressaceae x x x x x Prostrate shrub with compact growth; pointed leaves; locally common Carex atrata ssp. pullata Cyperaceae x Rare British alpine sedge; rock outcrops; rare Carex incurva Cyperaceae x x x x Common in open areas and alpine turf Carex oxyleuca Cyperaceae x x Common in alpine heath; small but elegant Carex sp. Cyperaceae x Indeterminable Kobresia deasyi Cyperaceae x Flushes and wet areas; local Kobresia prainii Cyperaceae x x x Non-descript; grazed areas, often in camp-sites; local Kobresia pygmaea Cyperaceae x x x x x x Minute; probably the commonest plant seen; dominant plant of all Tibetan turf Kobresia royleana Cyperaceae x x x Robust sedge, often as small hillocks; common Kobresia schoenoides Cyperaceae x x Tall, Schoenus-like; wet areas and river alluvium; local Kobresia uncinoides Cyperaceae x Dense inflorescence; alpine heaths; rare Dwarf decumbent shrub 4-5 cm, branches glandular pubescent, linear leaves, 3-6mm long, white-pale pink flowers, in head, lower 5 Diplarche multiflora Diapensiaceae x stamens attached above base of corolla tube; open areas and scree; very rare. Acanthocalyx alba Dipsacaceae x Spiny leaves, round heads Pterocephalus hookeri Dipsacaceae x Scabiosa-type plant with white or pink globose heads; grassland; local Hippophae rhamnoides Elaeagnaceae x x European sea-buckthorn; 2-3 m tall, narrow leaves; rocky areas; rare Hippophae tibetana Elaeagnaceae x x Low shrub, up to 1 m tall; river alluvium and rocky slopes; local Ephedra saxatilis Ephederaceae x Slender; rare on very dry ground Rhododendron anthopogon ssp. anthopogon Ericaceae x Small aromatic shrub, flowers in dense racemes, white, pink or yellow; heaths; common. All seems to be ssp. anthopogon Rhododendron nivale Ericaceae x x Dwarf shrub, small lilac-mauve flowers; heaths; common Euphorbia stracheyi Euphorbiaceae x x Striking low-growing spurge in a range of habitats; common Astragalus cf. melanostachys Fabaceae x Astragalus confertus Fabaceae x x x Flat minute grey leaves, small deep purple flowers; open areas; rare Astragalus donianus Fabaceae x Prostrate with small purple flowers; open ground; frequent/rare Astragalus monbeigi Fabaceae x x Tallish cushions with purple flowers; common in dry steppe areas Astragalus monticolus Fabaceae x x Flat cushion, sparse hairy leaves, purple flowers and smooth pods; dry steppe areas; rare Astragalus rigidulus Fabaceae x x Purple globular flower heads, spreading branches; open ground and short turf; local 6a 6b

37 Latin Name Family Notes Astragalus sp. Fabaceae x Indeterminable Astragalus sp.1 Fabaceae x Small low-growing plant, flowers not fully open; rare Astragalus sp.2 Fabaceae x Non-descript small plant with smooth pods Astragalus tecti-mundi Fabaceae x Yellow-flowered, tallish plant; called A. frigidus in field; grassland; rare Caragana jubata Fabaceae x x Spiny +/- erect shrub, leaves with dense woolly hairs; dry areas; common Gueldenstaedtia himalaica Fabaceae x x Low-growing perennial with silky pinnate leaves and mauve flowers; local in alpine areas Oxytropis kanuensis Fabaceae x Like European O. campestris; cream flowers, neat foliage; rare Oxytropis melanocalyx Fabaceae x x Pale yellow flower, flat plant with many leaflets; damp areas; occasional Oxytropis pauciflora Fabaceae x x Very dwarf purple flowered legume, tight leaf pairs; open areas; very rare Oxytropis sericopetala Fabaceae x Stems up to 15 cm, silver leaves, dull purple flowers; on open ground at 'comfort stop' Oxytropis sp.a Fabaceae x Toshida species A Spongiocarpella purpurea Fabaceae x Dense cushion, stemless or very short stem (<5 cm), many leaflets, yellow or purple flowers; open alpine areas; rare Tibetia tongolensis Fabaceae x x Low-growing cream-flowered small pea-plant, subglabrous or with a few appressed glandular hairs, open turf & rocky areas, rare Corydalis cashmeriana Fumariaceae x Small striking blue alpine species; local Corydalis conspersa Fumariaceae x x See Magnus Lidén's determinations of photos on our website Corydalis crispa Fumariaceae x x x x Tall yellow Corydalis in scrub and open areas; locally abundant Corydalis hendersonii Fumariaceae x Beautiful yellow species with fine grey leaves; rare Corydalis inopinata Fumariaceae x x See Magnus Lidén's determinations of photos on our website Corydalis jigmei Fumariaceae x x Within the C. cashmeriana group; blue flowers with some white or pale mauve Corydalis kingii Fumariaceae x See Magnus Lidén's determinations of photos on our website Corydalis melanochlora agg. Fumariaceae x x See Magnus Lidén's determinations of photos on our website Corydalis mucronifolia Fumariaceae x x x See Magnus Lidén's determinations of photos on our website Corydalis pygmaea Fumariaceae x See Magnus Lidén's determinations of photos on our website Corydalis sect. Trachycarpae Fumariaceae x See Magnus Lidén's determinations of photos on our website Corydalis sherriffii Fumariaceae x See Magnus Lidén's determinations of photos on our website Corydalis sp.1 Fumariaceae x Small yellow, indeterminable Corydalis sp.2 Fumariaceae x Leaves only, indeterminable A small dull-white flowered plant of dry waste ground. Not H. pendulum (in Flora of Tibet) as this is not listed as being in China at all in Hypecoum leptocarpum Fumariaceae x x x Grey-Wilson's Poppies Comastoma falcatum Gentianaceae x x Small, pale blue flowers Comastoma pedunculatum Gentianaceae x x x x Like a larger Gentianella tenella in Europe; rare Comastoma tenellum Gentianaceae x x Large C. pedunculatum Gentiana algida Gentianaceae x x x Striking white gentian with deep blue/black striping; local Gentiana atuntsiensis Gentianaceae x Tallish medium-sized Section Frigida gentian with deep blue corolla and purple calyx, elliptic basal leaves; short turf; rare 6a 6b

38 Latin Name Family Notes Gentiana bryoides Gentianaceae x x x Small decumbent annual, pale blue flowers, a bit like a small G. prostrata; open turf; very rare (= G. stylosa) Gentiana carinata Gentianaceae x Very small; rare Gentiana cf. micantiformis Gentianaceae x Small pale blue annual; turf; local Gentiana cf. nyingchiensis Gentianaceae x Mini annual 2 cm tall, small blue-purple flowers; open silt; very rare Gentiana cf. oreodoxa Gentianaceae x Attractive small trumpet gentian; very rare Gentiana cf. ornata Gentianaceae x x Very attractive trumpet gentian, elegant striping; very rare Gentiana cf. pseudoaquatica Gentianaceae x x Small annual pale blue gentian; wet turf; rare Gentiana cf. tianschanica Gentianaceae x Tallish slender purple-blue plant, large leaves; local Gentiana choanantha Gentianaceae x x x x Small blue; rare Gentiana depressa Gentianaceae x x Compact plant with broad flowers, elegant striping; local Gentiana flexicaulis Gentianaceae x x x Very pale sky blue, yellowish flower base; very small; local Gentiana leucomelaena Gentianaceae x x x x x White or pale blue; very small Gentiana moorcroftiana Gentianaceae x One of many small gentians, few obvious features Gentiana ornata Gentianaceae x Very attractive trumpet gentian, elegant striping; very rare Gentiana sp.1 Gentianaceae x Attractive large medium blue in wet turf; local. Close to G. albicalyx in some features but not an exact match Gentiana sp.2 Gentianaceae x Solitary perennial plants, medium blue, tubular, semi-trumpet flowers; turf; rare. Close to G. oreodoxa? Gentiana sp.4 Gentianaceae x Tiny; rare Gentiana sp.5 Gentianaceae x Very small; rare Gentiana straminea Gentianaceae x Rather unattractive white gentian with clusters of flowers; rare Gentiana tibetica Gentianaceae x x x Large plant, sessile pale yellow-yellow green flowers, growth form of G. cruciata - is in section Cruciata; turf; rare Gentiana tubiflora Gentianaceae x Elegant Oxford-blue narrow trumpet gentian, glaucous leaves; turf; rare Gentiana urnula Gentianaceae x x x x Curious square sets of grey-green leaves, very smooth margins; summit areas and screes; local Gentianopsis paludosa Gentianaceae x Annual 30 cm tall, blue flowers with fringed margins; wet areas; very rare Halenia elliptica Gentianaceae x Erect annual, pale blue or white corolla with spur at base of each lobe; turf & open areas; frequent Lomatagonium carinthiacum Gentianaceae x Single blue flowers on long branching flower stems; rare Lomatogonium caeruleum Gentianaceae x x Delicate plant, smaller than L. carinthiacum; rare Geranium donianum Geraniaceae x Pink flowers, deeply divided leaves; heaths; frequent-local Geranium moupinense Geraniaceae x x Attractive pink-purple species; mesic grassland at low altitudes; frequent Geranium polyanthes Geraniaceae x x Pink flowers, leaves with red margins; heaths and grassland; occasional Geranium sibiricum Geraniaceae x Large pale pink flowers, purple veins; rare Hippuris vulgaris Hippuridaceae x British mare's-tail; pools; local Iris cf. bulleyana Iridaceae x x Damp meadows; flowers largely over; rare Iris sp. Iridaceae x Seed pod. Indeterminable Juncus articulatus Juncaceae x British rush of damp areas; local 6a 6b

39 Latin Name Family Notes Juncus castaneus Juncaceae x British mountain rush; occasional Juncus sp. Juncaceae x Indeterminable Juncus thomsonii Juncaceae x White inflorescence; wet places; common Juncus triglumis Juncaceae x Scottish alpine; flushes; rare Luzula effusa Juncaceae x Tall wood-rush; scrub; rare Ajuga lupulina Lamiaceae x Very rare but distinctive Elsholtzia eriostachya Lamiaceae x x Yellow flowers, strong mint smell; open areas; rare Eriophyton wallichii Lamiaceae x x x x Very distinctive with ovate, very woolly leaves, flowers concealed by hairy lip; open screes; local Lamiophlomis rotata ssp. rotata Lamiaceae x x x Rosette of rounded leathery leaves, compact whorls of purple flowers; open dry areas; local. = Phlomis rotata Marmoritis nivalis Lamiaceae x = Phyllophyton nivale. Round leaved Nepeta with small purple flowers; scree; v rare Nepeta sp.1 Lamiaceae x Short cat-mint; seemingly indeterminable (23 spp. in FOT, 42 spp. in FOC!) Phlomis sp. Lamiaceae x Indeterminable Aletris glabra Liliaceae x 30 cm tall; flowers green - orange and viscid; frequent; Allium fasciculatum Liliaceae x Pale white or green flowers; local; very variable in size Allium sikkimensis Liliaceae x x x x Small, pale blue flowers; grassland Lloydia serotina Liliaceae x Welsh species; small populations in alpine heaths & grasslands; rare Lloydia serotina var. parva Liliaceae x Minute version of L. serotina; about 2 cm tall Epilobium royleanum Onagraceae x Small willow-herb with pubescent stems and leaves with petioles, small pink notched flowers; wet open, often disturbed areas; rare Epilobium sikkimense Onagraceae x x Small 5-10 cm pink willowherb in alpine habitats such as river gravels, streamsides, & flushes; local Epilobium williamsii Onagraceae x Small 4-5 cm alpine willow-herb; rose-purple petals, much branched from base; wet flushes and by lakes; rare Listera cf. divaricata Orchidaceae x Listera orchid; green-yellow flowers; heath; very rare Meconopsis horridula agg. Papaveraceae x x x x x x x Lovely striking alpine 'blue poppy'; very variable in size & bristle density; locally common Meconopsis integrifolia Papaveraceae x Yellow poppywort or Farrer's Lampshade Poppy; not in flower Meconopsis 'racemosa' Papaveraceae x x One of the many forms within the M. horridula agg. - taxonomy by no means clear! Parnassia cf. chinensis Parnassiaceae x Poor specimen; rare Small 2-3 cm tufted plant, ovate leaves, almost entire white petals; amongst moss between rocks; rare. Looked superficially like a small Parnassia pusilla Parnassiaceae x x x Oxygraphis Parnassia sp. Parnassiaceae x Indeterminable Parnassia tenella Parnassiaceae x Green or dull white petals, 10 cm tall; damp moss and rocks; very rare Parnassia trinervis Parnassiaceae x White entire petals with 3 prominent veins, 8-10 cm tall; scrub; very rare Plantago asiatica Plantaginaceae x Plantain; roadside Plantago depressa Plantaginaceae x Plantain; trampled areas Deschampsia caespitosa Poaceae x European tufted hair-grass; damp grazed areas; rare Festuca cf. vivipara Poaceae x European viviparous fescue; rare 6a 6b

40 Latin Name Family Notes Festuca ovina Poaceae x Common fescue; grassland; very variable and frequent Festuca rubra Poaceae x x British red fescue; grassland; locally frequent Festuca sp. or spp. Poaceae x Indeterminable fescue grasses; poor material and not collected; local Festuca tibetica Poaceae x x x x Common fescue grass in alpine areas Hierachloe sp. Poaceae x Holy grass. Indeterminable Phleum alpinum Poaceae x Scottish alpine Timothy grass; occasional Poa attenuata Poaceae x x Meadow grass; rare Poa hirtiglumis Poaceae x Tufted Poa; near habitations; local Poa pagophila Poaceae x x x Like Scandinavian P. flexuosa; very rare Poa sikkimensis Poaceae x x x Like British Poa annua; grotty! Poa sp. (viviparous) Poaceae x Like British P. alpina but not! Poa sp.or spp. (non-viviparous) Poaceae x x Indeterminable Poa grass; several possible species but material poor; local Trisetum spicatum Poaceae x x x European alpine grass; alpine heaths and screes; local Broad flower spikes, pink; common in alpine heaths & grazed areas; great variation in leaf shape. There may be an undescribed high alpine Bistorta macrophylla Polygonaceae x x x x x form with narrow linear leaves Bistorta vivipara Polygonaceae x x x x x European alpine bistort; short stems with white flowers, red bulbils in lower part of flower; alpine heaths; frequent Koenigia islandica Polygonaceae x x x x x Iceland purslane of Skye, Mull, Iceland, Scandinavia, high Arctic, Rockies, & Patagonia; minute annual of open wet areas; rare Koenigia nepalensis Polygonaceae x x Minute annual of wet open areas; ovate leaves with appressed hairs on both surfaces and acute tip; locally frequent in open damp areas Oxyria digyna Polygonaceae x x European mountain sorrel; ovate or orbicular leaves; damp fine-grained screes and amongst boulders; frequent Persicaria glacialis Polygonaceae x x Dwarf annual 1-3 cm, dense small pink heads; open wet sand by streams; very rare, easily overlooked because of its dwarfness Persicaria runcinata Polygonaceae x x Red, creeping knotgrass; open areas Polygonum aviculare Polygonaceae x European knotgrass; weed of cultivated areas; rare Polygonum sibirica Polygonaceae x x x Dwarf herb with greenish yellow dense flowers; dried-up bare mud and open areas; rare Rheum sp. Polygonaceae x Indeterminable Rheum spiciforme Polygonaceae x x Stemless, broad leaves; open dry scree; rare Rumex nepalensis Polygonaceae x x Like European R. sanguineus; 1 m tall; damp grasslands; locally dominant Androsace aff. muscoidea Primulaceae x x x Attractive cushions, flowers near all over. Det. D Zschummel Androsace cf. zambalensis Primulaceae x Tight mats of globular rosettes, 3-5 fls in tight umbel: white, pink or purple with yellow eye which turns pink with age, as does corolla Androsace delavayi Primulaceae x x Beautiful tight cushions with long silky cilia on leaf margin, small stemless white flowers with yellow eye; open areas; rare Androsace erecta Primulaceae x Det. D Zschummel Androsace graminifolia Primulaceae x Small grass-like leaves, tight heads of pink or white flowers on 1.5 cm long peduncles; rare Common cushion plant in dry areas, probably overlooked as much was not in flower, white sessile flowers turning pink with age with Androsace tapete Primulaceae x x x x x x yellow or green eye; dry exposed areas; common Androsace yargongensis Primulaceae x Low cushions, ciliated leaves with cilia at right angles to the leaf plane, pale pink or white flowers; open summit areas; local 6a 6b

41 Latin Name Family Notes Primula caveana Primulaceae x Tall - small plants with purple corolla and yellow eye; shaded caves and rock crevices; local Primula gambeliana Primulaceae x Like a small P. caveana, cordate leaves with markedly toothed margins; shady rock crevices; very rare Primula macrophylla var. macrophylla Primulaceae x Robust with winter resting buds & numerous persistent dead leaves, purple flowers with darker purple eye, calyx purple & divided; v rare Conspicuous tall yellow plant of streamsides and wet areas; common. All seemed to be var. sikkimensis to about 4500 m, above that plants Primula sikkimensis Primulaceae x were smaller and may be var. pudibunda Primula sp.2 Primulaceae x Purple capitata-like flowers, largely over. AJ Richards indeterminable Primula tibetica Primulaceae x x Attractive common plant with ovate-elliptic leaves, stems 2-10 cm with 1-12 pink flowers with yellow eye; damp areas; locally x common/rare Cryptogramma brunoniana Pteridophyte x Parsley fern; rocks; rare Polystichum lachenense Pteridophyte x Shield fern; tall; screes; rare Polystichum thomsonii Pteridophyte x Small shield fern; boulders; rare Woodsia elongata Pteridophyte x Alpine Woodsia; cliff crevices and screes; rare Aconitum cf. hookeri Ranunculaceae x Blue Aconitum, small with divided leaves; rare Aconitum kongboense Ranunculaceae x x Tall white Aconitum; local Aconitum sp. Ranunculaceae x Indeterminable Anemone obtusiloba Ranunculaceae x x Very variable; solitary fls; white, sometimes bluish-purple on outside of sepals; heaths & grassland; locally frequent Anemone trullifolia Ranunculaceae x Yellow flowers; distinct stem leaves with 3 teeth at apex; local Batrachium bungei Ranunculaceae x x Pools; white flowers (Ranunculus) Caltha palustris ssp. himalaica Ranunculaceae x x x x King-cup; very variable; wet areas; local Clematis tibetana ssp. vernayi var. dentata Ranunculaceae x Dark-flowered, orange or bi-coloured; thick, leathery sepals; locally abundant Delphinium caeruleum Ranunculaceae x Untidy low-growing blue Delphinium; rare Delphinium candelabrum Ranunculaceae x Loose growing, untidy short Delphinium; rare Delphinium cf. candelabrum Ranunculaceae x x See D. candelabrum Delphinium chryostrichtum Ranunculaceae x x x Short plant, dull flower colour; scree; local Delphinium glaciale Ranunculaceae x x x Attractive dense short blue Delphinium; high areas; local Halerpestes tricuspis Ranunculaceae x Creeping yellow buttercup in wet flushes; 3-lobed leaves; local (Ranunculus) Oxygraphis endlicheri Ranunculaceae x Ovate-orbicular shiny leaves; fl over; looks like a mini Parnassia; open alpine areas; rare. Includes O. polypetala (Flora of Bhutan) Oxygraphis glacialis Ranunculaceae x Ovate or elliptic shiny leaves, flowers over; like a mini Parnassia; open alpine areas; rare Ranunculus brotherusii Ranunculaceae x x x Small (up to 25 cm) yellow buttercup; divided basal leaves; rare Ranunculus pseudopygmaeus Ranunculaceae x Like European R. pygmaeus, v. small (up to 3 cm), minute yellow flowers, wet gravel & moraine, v. rare but easily overlooked. Ranunculus pulchellus Ranunculaceae x Common alpine yellow buttercup; up to 30 cm; basal leaves entire Ranunculus tanguticus Ranunculaceae x x Small trifoliate leaves Thalictrum alpinum Ranunculaceae x x x European alpine meadow-rue; small and indistinct flowers, leaves distinct; local in alpine turf 6a 6b

42 Latin Name Family Notes Cotoneaster acuminatus Rosaceae x Low-growing shrub, ovate acuminate leaves with some hairs, red fruits; open areas & stable river-gravels; rare Cotoneaster cf. microphyllus Rosaceae x Low-growing prostrate shrub, elliptical or orbicular glossy green leaves, small scarlet fruits; open, well-drained sites; local European silverweed; solitary yellow fls, lvs interruptedly pinnate with large and small leaflets, silvery undersides; short turf and open areas; Potentilla anserina Rosaceae x x x common. Very variable and may include some records of P. lineata, P. leuconota and P. polyphylla = P. atrosanguinea, like P. saundersiana but more robust, leaflets always 3, yellow flowers, like a large European P. nivea; open areas on Potentilla argyrophylla Rosaceae x river gravel & riverbanks, amongst rocks, summit open areas; rare Low growing or small cushions with slender rhizomes, pinnate leaves. lateral leaves entire, small 1-5 yellow flowers; open rocky areas and Potentilla bifurca Rosaceae x grazed turf; rare? overlooked Potentilla cf. polyphylla Rosaceae x Robust yellow flowered Potentilla; rare Potentilla eriocarpa Rosaceae x Similar to P. cuneata but leaflets larger and deeply 3- or 5-toothed, petals bilobed; open rocky areas, rock crevices, and cliff ledges; rare Common shrubby-cinquefoil, low-growing shrub with bright yellow flowers; many habitats; common. Very variable. Probably includes var. Potentilla fruticosa Rosaceae x x x x fruticosa and var. arbuscula of Flora of China 9 Potentilla fruticosa var. pumila Rosaceae x Dwarf version of P. fruticosa, tufted, slender stems; wind-exposed or high-alpine areas; rare Potentilla hololeuca Rosaceae x Small prostrate herb with 2-4 pairs of lateral leaflets, white beneath, small yellow flowers; summit area at Thong La; very rare Potentilla microphylla var. microphylla Rosaceae x x Dense cushions with pinnatisect leaves 1-6 cm with 7-9 pairs of leaflets, bright yellow flowers; alpine grassland; frequent Like P. microphylla var. microphylla but with very small leaves with only 2-3 pairs of leaflets; open turf; rare or? overlooked as var. Potentilla microphylla var. tapetodes Rosaceae x microphylla Potentilla monanthes ssp. sibthorpiodes Rosaceae x Typical yellow Potentilla but with oval leaves; cliffs; rare Potentilla multifida var. multifida Rosaceae x V plain Potentilla anserina-type, flat, creeping, grey leaves; rare Small herb with palmate 5-foliate leaves, solitary flowers; open alpine turf and summit areas; rare. Very similar to P. forrestii in Flora of Potentilla saundersiana var. caespitosa Rosaceae x x x x Bhutan and European P. nivea Small distinctive plant, neat yellow flowers with small orange spots, rather like European P. crantzii; very rare. Does not key out in Flora of Potentilla sp.1 Rosaceae x x China 9 (only 88 species!) Potentilla sp.3 Rosaceae x Indeterminable Potentilla sp.4 Rosaceae x Indeterminable Rosa sericea var. pteracantha Rosaceae x Erect shrub 1-3 m tall, creamy white flowers with 4(-5) petals; dry slopes, streamsides, & sheltered rocky areas; frequent Sibbaldia cuneata Rosaceae x Common small Sibbaldia; low mat-forming herb, 3-foliate leaves with long white hairs, minute yellow flowers; short turf Sibbaldia perpusilloides Rosaceae x Very small shiny leaves, largish whtie flowers; shaded rocks; very rare Sibbaldia purpurea var. purpurea Rosaceae x Small low-growing herb with grey silky leaves, red or solitary purple flowers; alpine turf & rock crevices; local Spiraea sp. Rosaceae x Indeterminable Salix cf. sikkimensis Salicaceae x Shrub willow Salix lindleyana Salicaceae x x Very small-leaved dwarf-willow; heaths; rare Saxifraga brunonis Saxifragaceae x Long red runners, yellow fl on stems up to 3 cm, leaf margins stiffly spinulose-ciliate; frequent Saxifraga cernua Saxifragaceae x European & N American plant; red bulbils in leaf axils; rare 6a 6b

43 Latin Name Family Notes Saxifraga cf. rotundipetala Saxifragaceae x Loose tufts, yellow flowers with red stamens; rare Saxifraga coarctata Saxifragaceae x S hirculus-type but broader leaves; rare Saxifraga consanguinea Saxifragaceae x x Glabrous basal leaves, red stolons arising from axils of basal leaves, yellow fl; open areas; rare Saxifraga diversifolia Saxifragaceae x Gentle cushions with large basal lightly hairy leaves, brown hairy stem, yellow flowers; v. rare. Seems to be var. angustibracteata Saxifraga engleriana Saxifragaceae x x Cushions with tight elliptic glabrous leaves, flowers yellow with orange or red spots; rock crevices & scree; rare Saxifraga hirculoides Saxifragaceae x x x Very like European S. hirculus except it grows in dry rock crevices instead of wet flushes! Saxifraga jacquemontana Saxifragaceae x x x x Cushion with yellow sessile flowers, spathulate leaves; open areas on glacial end-moraine; very rare Cushion plant with red colour in cushion & obtuse basal leaves & narrow linear stem leaves, yellow flowers with orange spots, just Saxifraga lepidostolonosa Saxifragaceae x x exserted from cushion; open summit area & gentle scree slopes; very rare Saxifraga litangensis Saxifragaceae x Small tufts, yellow; rare Saxifraga melanocentra Saxifragaceae x x White petals with yellow spots, entire or mildly lobed leaf; damp areas; frequent. A very variable taxon with many chromosome numbers x according to Flora of China Saxifraga moorcroftiana Saxifragaceae x Robust yellow-flowered plant, broad Hypericum-type leaves; rare Saxifraga mucronulata Saxifragaceae x Red stolons, yellow flowers, oblanceolate leaves with gland-tipped cilia & teeth; wet open areas; local Saxifraga nangxianensis Saxifragaceae x Large yellow plant, broad leaves; rare Tufted plant with 1-6 yellow flowers on short stems, lower leaves ovate & lanate, upper leaves ciliate; open areas in wind-exposed areas; Saxifraga parnassifolia Saxifragaceae x rare Saxifraga punctulata Saxifragaceae x Spathulate basal leaves with coarse cilia, yellow flowers with orange-red spots on short 2 cm stems; rock crevices at high altitude; very rare Saxifraga rotundipetala Saxifragaceae x x Yellow, tight rosettes Saxifraga saginoides Saxifragaceae x Tight cushions with small linear leaves, small solitary sessile yellow flowers; rock crevices, summit areas, open areas; local Saxifraga sp. Saxifragaceae x x Indeterminable Saxifraga sphaeradena Saxifragaceae x x Small erect yellow flowers (1-2) on short stems, entire glabrous or weakly glandular lanceolate leaves; dry rock crevices; rare Saxifraga stella-aurea Saxifragaceae x Tufts with ovate-spathulate leaves, solitary yellow flowers +/- orange-red spots; rock crevices; very rare Euphrasia jaeschkei Scrophulariaceae x Small annual eyebright, sparsely pubescent, middle lobe of flower wide; damp grassland; rare Euphrasia sp. Scrophulariaceae x Indeterminable Lagotis integra Scrophulariaceae x x Elongated blue-white inflorescence, leaf margins sparsely serrulate; rare Low-growing herb with purple or violet-blue flowers on very short stem, paler near base of tube, lower lip paler than upper lip; damp Lancea tibetica Scrophulariaceae x x x grassland and open turf; local Oreosolon unguiculatus Scrophulariaceae x Curious small yellow-flowered plant with medium rosette of irregularly toothed leaves; open areas or summits; rare Oreosolon wattii Scrophulariaceae x x Curious small yellow-flowered plant with large rosette of irregularly toothed leaves; open areas or summits; rare Pedicularis alaschanica ssp. alaschanica Scrophulariaceae x Bright large lemon-yellow flowers on short (5-6 cm) stem, finely divided leaves; turf at comfort stop; rare Pedicularis anas ssp. anas Scrophulariaceae x x Pale pink-white flowers, dark stem cm, finely divided leaves; open areas, turf; local Pedicularis anas ssp. tibetica Scrophulariaceae x Small purple-flowered plant, broad flower lips; scree; rare Pedicularis cf. corymbilifera Scrophulariaceae x Attractive plant with white flowers with red insides; very rare 6a 6b

44 Latin Name Family Notes Pedicularis cf. nana Scrophulariaceae x See P. nana below Pedicularis cheilanthifolia ssp. cheilanthifolia Scrophulariaceae x x x x x Beautiful low-growing plant, pale pink flowers at base, upper tube deep red; local Pedicularis integrifolia ssp. integrifolia Scrophulariaceae x Short plant with deep purple flowers with long hooked tube; open turf; rare Pedicularis kansuensis Scrophulariaceae x x x Tall pink, darker galea; rare Pedicularis longiflora var. tubiformis Scrophulariaceae x x x x x Spectacular yellow fl +/- dark stripe on upper parts, very long tube, stems very short; wet areas; locally common Pedicularis mollis Scrophulariaceae x Tall ( cm), much branched plant with small deep purple flowers; grassland; very rare Pedicularis muscoides Scrophulariaceae x x x Very small low plant with cream white flowers; turf and open areas; local Low-growing plant with many dense, short (1-2 cm) pink flowering shoots above basal rosette of divided leaves; open turf and summit Pedicularis nana Scrophulariaceae x x areas; rare. Not in Flora of Tibet or Flora of China but is in northern Bhutan Pedicularis oederi ssp. oederi Scrophulariaceae x x Attractive 5-8 cm tall plant, pale yellow corolla with some red or purple, distinctive basal leaves; short grassland or open turf; local Pedicularis przewalskii ssp. australis Scrophulariaceae x Like P. przewalskii ssp. przewalskii except leaf blades densely pubescent and flower deep purple-red throuhout; very small (2 cm); rare Pedicularis przewalskii ssp. przewalskii Scrophulariaceae x x x Dwarf, stemless plant with brilliant deep pink flowers with straight beak of galea, sparsely pubescent leaves; turf and alpine grassland; local Pedicularis rhinanthoides ssp. labellata Scrophulariaceae x Medium (20 cm) tall, broad shaped rose to violet-purple flowers, S-shaped closed beak; heath and grassland; local and rare Pedicularis roylei ssp. roylei Scrophulariaceae x x Low-growing (up to 5 cm) small pink & white flowers, some hairs but not densely hairy; open grassland & alpine heaths; occasional Pedicularis rupicola Scrophulariaceae x 20 cm tall, multi-branched, bright purple-red flowers with tube bent at right angle at base; dry rocks; rare Pedicularis sp. Scrophulariaceae x x x Indeterminable Pedicularis trichoglossa Scrophulariaceae x Tall purple-mauve plant with 'hairy nose'; turf and heaths; local Pedicularis tricolor Scrophulariaceae x Attractive large yellow 'tubiflora' type with different shades of yellow; rare Anisodus tanguticus Solanaceae x Tall, dull orange-pink flowers in disturbed areas; rare Przewalskia tangutica Solanaceae x Pika disturbed grassland; local Stellera chamaejasme Thymelaeaceae x x Surprisingly rare; dry areas; white with red tubes Urtica dioica Urticaceae x x Common British stinging nettle; common below about 4000 m; mainly ssp. gracilis with large leaves and male flowers in lower cymes Urtica hyperborea Urticaceae x x x x Alpine nettle; screes and amongst rocks; broadly ovate leaves;?under-recorded or really rare Nardostachys jatamansi Valerianaceae x = N. grandiflora; rose-pink flowers, fragrant, narrow leaves; root is a substitute for valerian; mainly alpine grassland; common 6a 6b Totals per column Totals per day

45 Table 5. Plant records for the Cogarbo elevation bands. The m band was hardly surveyed. Column 18 contains the few records made on August Latin Name Family Notes Angelica apaensis Apiaceae x x x x Tall white Angelica, ribbed stem; damp turf; rare Angelica sp. Apiaceae x x x x x x Tall Angelica, not in flower; damp turf; local Chamaesium cf. novemjugum Apiaceae x Open areas; very rare Chamaesium cf. paradoxum Apiaceae x x x x x Low-growing plant, ultimate leaf segments suborbicular-ovate, well developed bracteoles, pale lemon fl; open turf; v rare Cortia depressa Apiaceae x x x x x x x x Low plant, short styles, oblong pinnate leaves, white-purplish flowers; short turf and open areas; frequent Cortiella cf. hookeri Apiaceae x x x x x x x x Stemless plant, pinnate leaves with short ultimate leaf segments; open turf and among boulders; rare-local Cortiella cortioides Apiaceae x x Stemless plant, pinnate leaves with long ultimate leaf segments; open boulders areas; rare Eriocycla nuda Apiaceae x x x Seseli nudum. Slender white fl, plant ca. 50 cm, very similar to moon carrot on English chalk; dry grassland; rare Heracleum candicans Apiaceae x x Large white hogweed up to 1 m tall, large leaves, dense white umbels; damp grassland and by streams; locally common Heracleum cf. canescens Apiaceae x x x Large white hogweed with pale purple colouration; grassland; rare Heracleum cf. wallichii Apiaceae x x Large white hogweed; rocky areas; rare Heracleum millefolium Apiaceae x Small (10-50 cm) plant, leaves like Achillea milleafolium, small white flowers; damp grassland near Kharta; rare Ligusticum sp. Apiaceae x Rocky areas; very rare Pleurospermum apiolens Apiaceae x x x x x = Hymenidium apiolens. Conspicuous cm tall, finely divided leaves, large white umbels; grassland & rocky areas; local Pleurospermum cf. album Apiaceae x Open turf; very rare Pleurospermum cf. bicolor Apiaceae x x Open areas; rare Pleurospermum cf. nanum Apiaceae x x x x x x Small low plants, white or purplish fl, purple anthers, reduced stem, lvs fine, 2-3 pinnate; grassland & heath; rare Pleurospermum hadinii Apiaceae x Striking dwarf rosette, white petals with some purplish-red; open areas, bare soil by paths, and in scree; local Pleurospermum hookeri Apiaceae x Short white umbel, finely divided leaves, glabrous; damp turf and grassland; local Pleurospermum sp.2 Apiaceae x x x x x x Small low-growing plant, not fully open white flowers, small 1-2 pinnate leaves; open turf; very rare Schulzia dissecta Apiaceae x x = Trachydium dissectum. Small slender single stems, up to 20 cm, white petals, v short leaf segments; damp grassland; rare Selinum candollii Apiaceae x x x x = S. wallichianum. Short dense white flowered umbel with purplish leaf sheaths; rare Tordyliopsis brunonis Apiaceae x A short Heracleum-like plant, basal leaves irregularly serrate, pubescent; heath and grassland; rare Ajania nubigena Asteraceae x x Purple inflorescences, silver leaves; open ground Anaphalis cavei Asteraceae x x Small version of other Anaphalis spp. Tall, slender plant up to 30 cm, woody at base, stems tomentose, narrow lanceolate leaves, margins recurved; dry steppe; v Anaphalis contorta (tenella) Asteraceae x rare Flat mats of +/- silky grey narrow leaves with 1 vein, white flowers on very short stems, pointed phyllaries; open areas and Anaphalis nepalensis var. monocephala Asteraceae x x x x x summit ground; frequent Anaphalis nepalensis var. nepalensis Asteraceae x x x x x x x x x Like A. nepalensis var. monocephala but with wide silky grey leaves; open turf; local Anaphalis triplinervis Asteraceae x x x x Like A. nepalensis with leaves 3 or 5 veined, large dense white flower heads; turf; rare Artemisia frigida Asteraceae x x Small silver-leaved mugwort, looks like American A. frigida; open dry areas; rare

46 Latin Name Family Notes Aster asteroides Asteraceae x Small elegant Aster with short stem, dense pink flowers; moist turf; local Aster cf. tsarungensis Asteraceae x x x x Medium (20 cm), large basal leaves with hairy margins; turf; rare Aster diplostephioides Asteraceae x Elegant Aster with very narrow drooping ray flowers; moist turf; local Aster flaccidus Asteraceae x x x Attractive pubescent medium-sized Aster, distinct basal leaves, very small reduced stem flowers; wet glacial silt; rare Aster himalaicus Asteraceae x x x x x x Short Aster with large flowers and basal leaves; damp turf; local Aster souliei Asteraceae x Attractive Aster; very rare Aster sp. or spp. Asteraceae x x Indeterminable Carduus verutum Asteraceae x Thistle-like; rare Cicerbita roborowskii Asteraceae x Tall pale-blue Lactuca in scree, loose flower heads; rocky scree; local Cirsium falconeri Asteraceae x Thistle; very rare Short stems (up to 10 cm), single yellow drooping flowers, characteristic reniform leaves; open wet areas, wet rocky areas, Cremanthodium decaisnei Asteraceae x x x x x x x x damp rock crevices; frequent Short stems (up to 7 cm), pale yellow drooping flowers, ovate-elliptic bluntly toothed leaves; growing in moss amidst Cremanthodium ellisii Asteraceae x boulders; very rare. Like Yoshida's (2005) Cremanthodium sp.a Cremanthodium oblongatum Asteraceae x x Short stems (up to 5 cm), single yellow flowers, oblong-ovate leaves; in short turf; local on Samchung La Cremanthodium pinnatifidum Asteraceae x x x Possible name of Cremanthodium with barely pinnate leaves; short turf; rare Tall yellow Lactuca-type plant (= L. dubyaea) with yellow flowers on divided stalks, hirsute stalks; streamsides and Dubyaea hirsuta Asteraceae x x x x x grassland; rare Erigeron cf. monticolus Asteraceae x Grassland; rare Hippolytia gossypina Asteraceae x x x x x = Tanacetum gossypinum; silver foliage, yellow flowers not fully out; amidst boulders; local Leontopodium brachyactis Asteraceae x V similar to other Leontopodium, possibly overlooked; rare Leontopodium himalayanum Asteraceae x x x Large inflorescence 2-4 x capitula cluster, tufted plant; turf; frequent Leontopodium jacotianum Asteraceae x x Stems > 6 cm, stoloniferous mats, fl inflorescence pointed and often recurved down; screes and open turf; frequent Leontopodium leontopodinum Asteraceae x x x Very close to European L. alpinum; turf; local Leontopodium monocephalum Asteraceae x x Short flowering stems, bracts very hairy, brown capitula; open areas, turf, & stable screes; frequent Leontopodium nanum Asteraceae x x Flat grey silky mats and low cushions, very small sessile flowers; summit areas; rare Leontopodium pusillum Asteraceae x x x x Similar in many ways to L. nanum but growing in the Himalaya, vaguely distinguished by filiform stolons and radiating bracts Leontopodium stracheyi Asteraceae x x x Leaves & stems with glandular hairs, tall stems up to 30 cm, flowers with pink or brown phyllaries; screes & dry areas; local Ligularia cf. hookeri Asteraceae x x Basal leaves ovate, several flowering heads, slender plant; amongst Rhododendron; rare Ligularia cremanthoides Asteraceae x x x x x x Excellent name - looks like a Cremanthodium! Cordate toothed leaves, several capitula; amongst rocks; v rare Ligularia lankongensis Asteraceae x Tall Ligularia; damp areas; very rare Ligularia retusa Asteraceae x x Medium Ligularia; grassland; rare Ligularia rumicifolia Asteraceae x x x x x x x Tall with large heart-shaped leaves like large Rumex aquaticus; dry grassland; local 36

47 Latin Name Family Notes Pseudognaphalium affine Asteraceae x x Yellow flowers, lanceolate leaves, looks like a Helichrysum Saussurea bhutkesh Asteraceae x Leaves only, very small, at high elevation only Saussurea cf. globosa Asteraceae x Probably this species but many possibles; very rare Saussurea cf. taraxicifolia Asteraceae x x Taraxacum lvs; local Characteristic 'snow-ball' plant of high ground but very variable depending on age and exposure; open rocky areas, screes, Saussurea gossipiphora Asteraceae x x x x x and summit ground; local Saussurea hieracioides Asteraceae x x x x x x Short (5-10 cm) purple flowers, single stems; grassland; rare Saussurea kingii Asteraceae x x x x x Stemless purple flowers, prostrate rosette of Taraxacum-like leaves Saussurea obvallata Asteraceae x Tall conspicuous plant, seen from distance only Saussurea purpurescens Asteraceae x Rather non-descript small Saussurea; rare Saussurea simpsoniana Asteraceae x x Chog La summit areas; local Saussurea sp. Asteraceae x Indeterminable Distinct in several characters but not determinable. May be a newly described species or an undescribed sp.; dry areas; very Saussurea sp.1 Asteraceae x x x x x x x rare Saussurea subulisquama Asteraceae x x Few features; rare, possibly overlooked Saussurea uniflora Asteraceae x x x x Tall plant with broad yellow or purple upper leaves/bracts; wet areas; rare Saussurea wernerioides Asteraceae x x Matt of green leaves with purple flowers dotted over surface; summit areas Senecio laetus (chrysanthemoides) Asteraceae x x x x x x Tall yellow with many smaller capitula, very variable; damp grassland; rare Senecio raphanifolius Asteraceae x x Orange centre and backs; grassland; rare Soroseris erysimoides Asteraceae x Entire lf margins, almost no hairs, dull yellow fl, almost stemless; very rare Soroseris glomerata Asteraceae x x x x x x Oval grey felted leaves, sometimes toothed or entire, much smaller lvs than S.erysimoides. Anthers dark Soroseris hirsuta Asteraceae x x x x x x Deeply toothed leaves, plants stemless even when old; locally frequent Soroseris hookeriana Asteraceae x x Shallowly or deeply pinnatifid, also entire leaves on same plant. Flowering spike elongates with age Soroseris pumila Asteraceae x Small rosette, brownish-pink leaves; rare Taraxacum leucanthum Asteraceae x x x x Small yellow dandelion, much lobed leaves; turf; local Taraxacum sikkimense Asteraceae x x Small pale yellow-white dandelion, simple barely toothed leaves; turf; local Youngia depressa Asteraceae x Dwarf yellow Crepis-like plant, +/- stemless, indistinctly lobed leaves; steppe; very rare Youngia simultrix Asteraceae x Like Y. gracilipes but rosulate almost acaulescent, lvs mildly dentate; dry open soils; very rare Impatiens glandulifera Balsaminaceae x Introduced into Britain; rare Impatiens parviflora Balsaminaceae x Introduced into Britain; rare Impatiens sulcata Balsaminaceae x Difficult genus with too many species; pink-purple flowers, linear capsules; rare Berberis cf. angulosa Berberidaceae x x x x Shrub up to 1.5 m, brown stems strongly grooved, herbaceous leaves; steppe and dry heath areas; locally frequent; nasty! Berberis cf. concinna Berberidaceae x x x Similar to B. cf. angulosa but leaves harder, stem less grooved; steppe; local; nasty! 37

48 38 Latin Name Family Notes Berberis cf. wilsonae Berberidaceae x Berberis bush with many clusters of small yellow flowers, short spines, scrub, local Berberis sp.1 Berberidaceae x x Clustered flower remnants, shrub, long spines; occasional; many possible species; very nasty! Betula utilis Betulaceae x Easily identifiable tree going up to tree-line; bark whitish to pinkish; locally common & v variable in bark colour Cynoglossum wallichii Boraginaceae x Dark blue hound's tongue; waste areas; local Eritrichium lasiocarpum Boraginaceae x Loose cushions with pale blue flowers; dry turf; very rare Hackleia sp. Boraginaceae x Indeterminable Lappula sp.1 Boraginaceae x Field edges near Kharta; very rare Microulia sp.1 Boraginaceae x Small indeterminable forget-me-not like plant Myosotis alpestris ssp. asiatica Boraginaceae x x x x x x European alpine forget-me-not on Ben Lawers, etc; grassland & amongst rocks; local. Called M. sylvatica in error Trigonotis ovalifolia Boraginaceae x x x Weak perennial, erect stems, blue flowers in forked raceme; loose soil in grassland; very rare Trigonotis rockii Boraginaceae x x x x Low-growing forget-me-not, light blue-purple flowers; dry soil amongst rocks; very rare Trigonotis sp. Boraginaceae x x Indeterminable Trigonotis tibetica Boraginaceae x x Short, many branched stems, light blue flowers; dry open waste areas; rare Capsella bursa-pastoris Brassiaceae x Weed Cardamine pulchella Brassiaceae x x x x Like a very small (5 cm) Cardamine pratensis, pink flowers; in wet moss in cliff crevices; very rare Draba altaica Brassiaceae x Tall white-flowered, fruits not twisted, leaves with dense simple trichomes; open areas; local/rare Draba gracillima Brassiaceae x Tall plant with loose bright yellow flowers, large basal leaves; glacial moraines; local Draba setosa Brassiaceae x Small tufts with linear leaves, yellow flowers, and oblong-lanceolate fruits; open ground; rare Erysimum hieracifolium Brassiaceae x Tall yellow wallflower; dry areas; rare Megacarpaea delavayi Brassiaceae x x x Like a large pink Cardamine Pegaeophyton minutum Brassiaceae x x Very small plants, small white fls, long thin irregularly lobed leaves; wet areas amongst rocks; very rare Pegaeophyton scapiflorum ssp. Small herb, white petals up to 12 mm long, entire glabrous leaves, all basal leaves, flowers solitary; wet alpine rocks and Brassiaceae x x x robustum crevices; rare Pegaeophyton scapiflorum ssp. scapiflorum Brassiaceae x x x x x x Like ssp. robustum but smaller, petals about 5-7 mm, thin lvs; wet gravel; occasional. Very variable leaf shape Rorippa islandica Brassiaceae x Yellow British plant of wet places; rare Callitriche stagnalis Callitrichaceae x x x Water starwort; in running water; rare Adenophora lillifolioides Campanulaceae x Tall with slender pale blue flowers; rare Campanula modesta Campanulaceae x x Slender small plant, small drooping pale blue nodding flowers; turf and open areas; local Codonopsis cf. subsimplex Campanulaceae x x Bit of a mystery plant; grassland; rare Codonopsis thalictrifolia Campanulaceae x x x x x x x Large knipped flowers with reddish purple veins flared at mouth; often amongst Rhododendron in heaths; local Cyananthus cf. incanus Campanulaceae x See C. incanus Cyananthus incanus Campanulaceae x x Glabrous calyx, blue flowers, perennial, variable; open areas in heaths & steppe; locally common

49 Latin Name Family Notes Cyananthus lobatus Campanulaceae x x Dark densely hairy calyx, lobed leaves; open areas; rare or overlooked Cyananthus microphyllus Campanulaceae x Leaves very small, hairy calyx; dry grassland; rare Cyananthus pedunculatus Campanulaceae x x x x x x x x x Dark densely hairy calyx, leaves not lobed; local in open heath and amidst rocks Cyananthus sp. Campanulaceae x Indeterminable Lonicera myrtillus Caprifoliaceae x Grey leaves like Vaccinium myrtillus (bilberry); heaths and rocks; rare Lonicera thibetica Caprifoliaceae x Spiny shrub up to 1.5 m, leaves hairy beneath, long dull pink flowers; rare Arenaria ciliolata Caryophyllaceae x x x x x x x Tufted perennial, leaves sharply acuminate with hairs, large white flowers; dry open areas including steppe; local Arenaria depauperata Caryophyllaceae x Slender 5-10 cm plant, small white flowers, looks like a Stellaria; rock crevices; very rare. Not in Flora of China or Flora of Tibet but may have another name Arenaria dryadifolia Caryophyllaceae x x x x Dark foliage; rare Arenaria edgeworthiana Caryophyllaceae x Large cushions, linear tight leaves, large white flowers; very rare Arenaria glanduligera Caryophyllaceae x x x x x x x x x Loose tufts with pale or deep pink or white flowers; very variable; open areas and screes; local; plant that was very puzzling because of its variability Arenaria melandryiformis Caryophyllaceae x x x x Similar in growth to A. melandryoides (also too similar in name!) but white or pink petals; open turf; v rare Arenaria melandryoides Caryophyllaceae x x x x x x x x Bright pink-purple flowers, no cushions, creeping stems with leathery elliptic leaves; open stony areas; local Arenaria sp.1 Caryophyllaceae x Cushion with soft leaves, few flowers, mainly over; open areas and loose scree; rare Cerastium fontanum ssp. grandiflorum Caryophyllaceae x x x x Like European C. fontanum (common mouse-ear) but annual and large petals; open waste ground; rare Gypsophila cerastioides Caryophyllaceae x Small pubescent herb with reddish stems, white flowers with purple streaks; damp areas in grassland; very rare Sagina procumbens Caryophyllaceae x Common European weedy pearlwort; rare Sagina saginoides Caryophyllaceae x x x x x European alpine pearlwort; small 5-petalled white flowers; open areas; rare Silene nigrescens Caryophyllaceae x x x x x x x x x Inflated calyx with dark purple ribs, pink petals exserted 4-5 mm; open areas and rock crevices; rare Stellaria congestifolia Caryophyllaceae x Like the frequent S. decumbens but with densely white lanate stems; wet areas amongst boulders; very rare Stellaria decumbens Caryophyllaceae x x x x x x x x x Lax or loose tufts, hairy stems, acuminate stiff leaves, deeply bifid white petals; damp open areas; locally common. This plant does not have deeply bifid petals Stellaria subumbellata Caryophyllaceae x x Like a well-grown European S. alsine but with thin linear leaves, small white flowers; damp areas; rare but easily overlooked Axyris prostrata Chenopodiaceae x Low growing non-flowering but fruiting mat in waste areas; local Chenopodium album Chenopodiaceae x European fat-hen; rare Cuscuta chinensis Convolvulaceae x Dodder; scrambing over shrubs; rare Rhodiola bupleuroides Crassulaceae x x x x x x x x x Like European Rhodiola rosea in size and leaf but red flowers; in open turf; occasional Rhodiola crenulata Crassulaceae x x x x Very large plants with deep pink or red flowers, toothed leaves; big patches on stable screes; frequent Rhodiola cretinii ssp. cretinii Crassulaceae x x x x x x x x x Small low-growing plant with aerial shoots emerging from subterranean creeping shoots, yellow or red flowers; wet flushes and open ground; frequent Rhodiola fastigata Crassulaceae x x x x x x Small, narrow leaved, red flowers turning pink; wet areas at Rutok;rare Rhodiola himalensis Crassulaceae x x x x x x x Like a European Rhodiola rosea but medium size, narrow leaves, red fl; in turf & between rocks; frequent 39

50 Latin Name Family Notes Rhodiola sacra Crassulaceae x x x x x Small white or red flowers, Saxifraga look-a-like; rock crevices; very rare Sedum cf. gagei Crassulaceae x Small yellow flowered stonecrop with pointed leaves; open rocky area; very rare Sedum glaeobosum Crassulaceae x Small yellow stonecrop; very rare Sedum longifuniculatum Crassulaceae x Distinct stonecrop; rare Sedum oreades Crassulaceae x Small yellow stonecrop; dry crevies; rare Sedum prasinopetalum Crassulaceae x x Medium yellow-flowered stonecrop, desne small flowers; rare Juniperus communis ssp. alpina Cupressaceae x x Dwarf juniper as in Europe, difficult to separate from J. squamata; v rare in Kharta area, maybe its easternmost locality Juniperus communis ssp. nana Cupressaceae x Not really sure of the difference between ssp. nana and ssp. alpina! Juniperus indica Cupressaceae x x x x Black juniper; common shrub, often by houses or monastries; leaves dimorphic, needle-like & blunt imbricate Juniperus squamata Cupressaceae x x x x Prostrate shrub with compact growth; pointed leaves; locally common Blysmus compressus Cyperaceae x x x British plant; wet areas; rare Carex atrata ssp. pullata Cyperaceae x x x x x x x Rare British alpine sedge; rock outcrops; rare Carex atrofusca ssp. minor Cyperaceae x x x x Rare Scottish alpine sedge; flushes & lake edges; local Carex haematostoma Cyperaceae x x Very tall, up to 50 cm; wet areas; local Carex incurva Cyperaceae x x x x x x x x x Common in open areas and alpine turf Carex microglochin Cyperaceae x Very rare Scottish sedge; flushes; rare Carex montis-everestii Cyperaceae x x x Despite its name, only 15 cm tall! Rare Carex oxyleuca Cyperaceae x x x x Common in alpine heath; small but elegant Carex sp. or spp. Cyperaceae x Indeterminable Carex spp.; many possible candidates but material seen was very poor Kobresia humilis Cyperaceae x x Growth form like a small European Carex pulicaris; open areas; local Kobresia prainii Cyperaceae x x x x x x x x x Non-descript; grazed areas, often in camp-sites; local Kobresia pygmaea Cyperaceae x x x x x x x x x Minute; probably the commonest plant seen; dominant plant of all Tibetan turf Kobresia royleana Cyperaceae x x x x x x x x x Robust sedge, often as small hillocks; common Kobresia schoenoides Cyperaceae x Tall, Schoenus-like; wet areas and river alluvium; local Kobresia simpluiscula Cyperaceae x x x British Kobresia. tallish Kobresia sp. or spp. Cyperaceae x x x x Indeterminable grazed Kobresia spp.; many possible species Diplarche multiflora Diapensiaceae x x x x x x Dwarf decumbent shrub 4-5 cm, branches glandular pubescent, linear leaves, 3-6mm long, white-pale pink flowers, in head, lower 5 stamens attached above base of corolla tube; open areas and scree; very rare. Diplarche pauciflora Diapensiaceae x x Branches glabrous or nearly so, leaves 2-3mm long, heads 2-8 flowered, lower 5 stamens free from corolla Acanthocalyx delavayi Dipsacaceae x x x Pink flowers, entire leaves with small bristles on edges; grassland; rare Pterocephalus hookeri Dipsacaceae x x Scabiosa-type plant with white or pink globose heads; grassland; local Acanthocalyx chinensis Dipsacaceae x x x x White or pale yellow flowers in whorls, leaves with stiff spines; rocky areas in steppe; very rare Ephedra gerardiana Ephederaceae x x x Locally common 40

51 Latin Name Family Notes Cassiope fastigiata Ericaceae x x x x x x x x x Erect familiar dwarf-shrub, white petals; heaths; locally common Gaultheria trichophylla Ericaceae x x x x x x x x x Prostrate evergreen dwarf-shrub, only seen with its deep blue fruits; heaths; rare,? overlooked Rhododendron anthopogon ssp. anthopogon Ericaceae x x x x x x x x Small aromatic shrub, flowers in dense racemes, white, pink or yellow; heaths; common. All seems to be ssp. anthopogon Rhododendron lepidotum Ericaceae x x x x x Subshrub, small yellow, white or pink flowers; heaths; very common Rhododendron nivale Ericaceae x x x x x x Dwarf shrub, small lilac-mauve flowers; heaths; common Rhododendron pumilum Ericaceae x x Dwarf shrub, flowers smaller than R. nivale; rare Rhododendron setosum Ericaceae x x x x x x x x x Subshrub, pale-deep purple largish flowers, calyx deeply 5-lobed; heaths; common Euphorbia stracheyi Euphorbiaceae x x Striking low-growing spurge in a range of habitats; common Astragalus alpinus Fabaceae x British and Scandinavian alpine vetch; rare Astragalus donianus Fabaceae x x Prostrate with small purple flowers; open ground; frequent/rare Gueldenstaedtia himalaica Fabaceae x x Low-growing perennial with silky pinnate leaves and mauve flowers; local in alpine areas Oxytropis glacialis Fabaceae x x Cushions with green leaves, dense purple flowers; open areas; occasional Spongiocarpella purpurea Fabaceae x x x x Dense cushion, stemless or very short stem (<5 cm), many leaflets, yellow or purple flowers; open alpine areas; rare Vicia tibetica Fabaceae x Open dry scree slopes; purple flowers, 6-8 leaflet pairs; rare Corydalis bimaculata Fumariaceae x See Magnus Lidén's determinations of photos on our website Corydalis cashmeriana Fumariaceae x x x x Small striking blue alpine species; local Corydalis cf. tenuipes Fumariaceae x x x See Magnus Lidén's determinations of photos on our website Corydalis crispa Fumariaceae x x x x x Tall yellow Corydalis in scrub and open areas; locally abundant Corydalis imbricata Fumariaceae x x x See Magnus Lidén's determinations of photos on our website Corydalis jigmei Fumariaceae x x x x Within the C. cashmeriana group; blue flowers with some white or pale mauve Corydalis latiflora Fumariaceae x x Lovely pale mauve with yellow flowers Corydalis meifolia Fumariaceae x x x x x x x x x Fern-leaf' alpine Corydalis; locally frequent at high elevations Corydalis polygalina Fumariaceae x x x x x x x x Small yellow alpine species; rare Corydalis stracheyi Fumariaceae x x x x x See Magnus Lidén's determinations of photos on our website Corydalis tenuipes Fumariaceae x x x x x x x Dirty yellow; local Comastoma cf. cyananthiflorum Gentianaceae x x x x Small, dark blue flowers; local Comastoma falcatum Gentianaceae x x Small, dark blue flowers; local Comastoma tenellum Gentianaceae x x Large; local Gentiana argentea Gentianaceae x x x x Small multi-stemmed blue gentian; local Gentiana aristata Gentianaceae x x Small glabrous annual, blue to pale purple flowers; rare Gentiana bryoides Gentianaceae x x x x Small decumbent annual, pale blue flowers, a bit like a small G. prostrata; open turf; very rare (= G. stylosa) 41

52 42 Latin Name Family Notes Gentiana cf. micantiformis Gentianaceae x x Small pale blue annual; turf; local Gentiana cf. oreodoxa Gentianaceae x x x Attractive small trumpet gentian; very rare Gentiana choanantha Gentianaceae x x x Small blue, often almost white; rare Gentiana infelix Gentianaceae x Short perennial, basal rosettes absent, corolla lobes much shorter than tube, dark blue flowers; turf; very rare Gentiana leucomelaena Gentianaceae x x x x x x White or pale blue; very small Gentiana micans Gentianaceae x x x x x x Like G. verna; local Gentiana nyingchiensis Gentianaceae x Mini annual 2 cm tall, small blue-purple flowers; open silt; very rare Gentiana pedicellata Gentianaceae x x x x x x Very small, blue; rare Gentiana prolata Gentianaceae x x Cambridge blue trumpet gentian with dark stripes, narrow leaves; turf; very rare Gentiana sino-ornata Gentianaceae x x Classic 'garden' gentian, Cambridge blue with striped calyx; rare Gentiana sp. Gentianaceae x Very small, Indeterminable Gentiana sp.1 Gentianaceae x Attractive large medium blue in wet turf; local. Close to G. albicalyx in some features but not an exact match Gentiana sp.3 Gentianaceae x x x Small annual, medium blue fringed flowers; turf; rare. Close to G. micans? Gentiana tubiflora Gentianaceae x x x x x x x x x Elegant Oxford-blue narrow trumpet gentian, glaucous leaves; turf; rare Gentianopsis paludosa Gentianaceae x x Annual 30 cm tall, blue flowers with fringed margins; wet areas; very rare Halenia elliptica Gentianaceae x x x x Erect annual, pale blue or white corolla with spur at base of each lobe; turf & open areas; frequent Lomatagonium carinthiacum Gentianaceae x x x x Single blue flowers on long branching flower stems; rare Lomatogonium oreocharis Gentianaceae x x Similar to L. carinthiacum but ovate-orbicular basal leaves; local Swertia cuneata Gentianaceae x x x x x x Single stem, large flowers; grassland; local Swertia handeliana Gentianaceae x x V small Swertia, elegant flowers; grassland; rare Up to 150 cm tall, reddish purple or bronze flowers in pannicles forming whorls; damp turf, open forest & forest edges; Swertia hookeri Gentianaceae x x rare; very conspicuous! Swertia multicaulis Gentianaceae x x x x Blue 4-merous flowers, no main stem, flowers on numerous long peduncles; heath & grassland; locally common Swertia sp.1 Gentianaceae x x Indeterminable Swertia sp.2 Gentianaceae x Indeterminable Geranium donianum Geraniaceae x x Pink flowers, deeply divided leaves; heaths; frequent-local Geranium grandiflorum Geraniaceae x Large flowered pink plant, very finely divided leaves; heaths; local Geranium moupinense Geraniaceae x x x x x x x x Attractive pink-purple species; mesic grassland at low altitudes; frequent Geranium polyanthes Geraniaceae x x Pink flowers, leaves with red margins; heaths and grassland; occasional Geranium refractoides Geraniaceae x x x x Flowers inverted, pink flushed with mauve; grassland; rare Ribes glaciale Grossulariaceae x x x 2-5 m shrub, dark flowers; forest edges and hollows; rare Ribes orientale Grossulariaceae x x 1-2 m shrub, glandular-hairy twigs, 3-5 lobed leaves; several habitats; local Iris clarkei Iridaceae x x x x Not in flower, alpine meadows; local

53 43 Latin Name Family Juncus allioides Juncaceae x x x x x Clear transverse septa; lake margins; local Juncus benghalensis Juncaceae x x x x x x Like J. thomsonii but conspicuous anthers; wet areas; locally common Juncus castaneus Juncaceae x x x x x x x x British mountain rush; occasional Juncus concinnus Juncaceae x Untidy rush, small white inflorescences; rare Juncus duthei Juncaceae x Long twisted anthers; streamsides; rare Juncus leucanthus Juncaceae x x Like J. allioides; damp areas;? overlooked Juncus pseudocastaneus Juncaceae x x x = J. sikkimensis; wet flushes; rare; like J. castaneus in Scotland Juncus sp. or spp. Juncaceae x x Indeterminable Juncus spp., mainly grazed or poor material; wet areas; local Juncus thomsonii Juncaceae x x x x x x White inflorescence; wet places; common Juncus triglumis Juncaceae x x x x x x x x Scottish alpine; flushes; rare Luzula effusa Juncaceae x x x x x x x x x x Tall wood-rush; scrub; rare Luzula multiflora Juncaceae x European wood-rush; alpine heath; rare Triglochin maritima Juncaginaceae x British salt-marsh species; rare Triglochin palustre Juncaginaceae x x Marsh areas; British species; local Dracocephalum caerulescens Lamiaceae x Attractive blue flowers, distinctive growth-form; rare Elsholtzia eriostachya Lamiaceae x Yellow flowers, strong mint smell; open areas; rare Nepeta coerulescens Lamiaceae x x Tall up to 50 cm purple cat-mint, ovate-oblong leaves; dry scree slopes; local Nepeta sp.1 Lamiaceae x x Short cat-mint; seemingly indeterminable (23 spp. in FOT, 42 spp. in FOC!) Prunella vulgaris Lamiaceae x x x Common European self-heal; blue-violet flowers in cylindrical terminal heads; grassland; rare Thymus linearis Lamiaceae x Showy thyme, forming large colourful patches in steppe and open dry areas; local Aletris glabra Liliaceae x x 30 cm tall; flowers green - orange and viscid; frequent; Aletris gracilis Liliaceae x x x x x x x Look-a-like orchid; cm tall; local; pink - white Aletris pauciflora Liliaceae x x x x x x x Look-a-like orchid; 15 cm tall; hairy; pink-white Fritillaria cirrhosa Liliaceae x In seed only. Could be Lilium nanum? Lilium nanum forma nanum Liliaceae x x x In seed; alpine heath; rare Lloydia serotina Liliaceae x Welsh species; small populations in alpine heaths & grasslands; rare Lloydia sp. Liliaceae x Indeterminable Maianthemum oleraceum var. acuminatum Liliaceae x x Wine-red flowers; heath Maianthemum oleraceum var. oleraceum Liliaceae x White flowers flushed with mauve; heath Polygonatum hookeri Liliaceae x x x Dwarf plant; purple; very rare Epilobium lactiflorum Onagraceae x x Thin drooping white flowers, Scandinavian plant; rare Notes

54 Latin Name Family Notes Epilobium latifolium Onagraceae x x Large (5 cm) pink flowered willow-herb with short stalked petals; wet silts; rare Epilobium palustre Onagraceae x x European marsh willow-herb; basal stolons, small pink flowers; wet areas; rare Epilobium royleanum Onagraceae x x Small willow-herb with pubescent stems and leaves with petioles, small pink notched flowers; wet open, often disturbed areas; rare Epilobium sikkimense Onagraceae x x x x x x Small 5-10 cm pink willowherb in alpine habitats such as river gravels, streamsides, & flushes; local Epilobium sp. Onagraceae x Indeterminable Epilobium wallichianum Onagraceae x x Like European E. tetragonum; 4-angled hairy stem, pink flowers; wet grassland and ditches; rare Epilobium williamsii Onagraceae x x x x x x x Small 4-5 cm alpine willow-herb; rose-purple petals, much branched from base; wet flushes and by lakes; rare Amitostigma tibeticum Orchidaceae x x Minute, 2 cm tall; purple flowers; growing amidst Saxifraga and Androsace cushions Aorchis roborowskii Orchidaceae x Small one-leaved Ponerorchis; very rare Chusua pauciflora Orchidaceae x Pink tri-lobed fl, single leaf; grassland and streamsides; local Dactylorhiza hatagirea Orchidaceae x Very rare Gymnadenia conopsea Orchidaceae x British scented orchid; rare Herminium monanthum Orchidaceae x x Dwarf musk orchid; turf; rare Herminium monorchis Orchidaceae x x British musk orchid; scrub and grassland; local Malaxis monophyllos Orchidaceae x Dull yellow-green flowers; small; heath; rare Peristylus cocloceras Orchidaceae x x x x x White orchid in dwarf-shrub heath; rare Satyrium ciliatum var. ciliatum Orchidaceae x Pink with vertical spur about 1 cm long; local Boschniakia himalaica Orobanchaceae x x x Yellowish-brown flowers, spike to 20cm Meconopsis grandis Papaveraceae x x x x Taller than M. simplicifolia, large branching blue inflorescence; damp grassland; rare Meconopsis horridula agg. Papaveraceae x x x Lovely striking alpine 'blue poppy'; very variable in size & bristle density; locally common Meconopsis paniculata Papaveraceae x x Large plant, yellow flowers; golden bristle-hair leaves; very local Maroon coloured tall plant in heath; local but frequent. A new species described by C. Grey-Wilson in The Alpine Gardener Meconopsis tibetica Papaveraceae x x x (June 2006). Not in flower Parnassia chinensis Parnassiaceae x x 5-10 cm tall, ovate leaves, almost entire white petals; damp turf; very rare Parnassia delavayi Parnassiaceae x x x x x 15 cm tall, ovate leaves, entire white petals; in damp moss; rare Parnassia palustris Parnassiaceae x British tall grass-of-parnassus Parnassia pusilla Parnassiaceae x x x x x x Small 2-3 cm tufted plant, ovate leaves, almost entire white petals; amongst moss between rocks; rare. Looked superficially like a small Oxygraphis Parnassia tenella Parnassiaceae x x x x Green or dull white petals, 10 cm tall; damp moss and rocks; very rare Parnassia trinervis Parnassiaceae x White entire petals with 3 prominent veins, 8-10 cm tall; scrub; very rare Abies densa Pinaceae x Forest tree; rare Plantago depressa Plantaginaceae x Plantain; trampled areas 44

55 Latin Name Family Notes Agrostis sp. or spp. Poaceae x x x x x x x x Indeterminable hair-grasses; poor material and not collected; rare Deschampsia caespitosa Poaceae x x x x European tufted hair-grass; damp grazed areas; rare Deschampsia flexuosa Poaceae x x Common British hair-grass; local Elymus caniculatus Poaceae x x Main grass amongst boulders in several habitats; common Festuca ovina Poaceae x x x x Common fescue; grassland; very variable and frequent Festuca rubra Poaceae x x x x British red fescue; grassland; locally frequent Festuca tibetica Poaceae x x x x x x x x x Common fescue grass in alpine areas Phleum alpinum Poaceae x x x x x Scottish alpine Timothy grass; occasional Phleum pratense Poaceae x British timothy grass; rare Poa annua Poaceae x British annual meadow-grass, trampled and yak disturbed areas, local Poa attenuata Poaceae x x x x Meadow grass; rare Poa hirtiglumis Poaceae x Tufted Poa; near habitations; local Poa litwinowiana Poaceae x x Like small British P. nemoralis; rare Poa pagophila Poaceae x x x x x x Like Scandinavian P. flexuosa; very rare Poa sikkimensis Poaceae x x x x x x Like British Poa annua; grotty! Poa sp.or spp. (non-viviparous) Poaceae x Indeterminable Poa grass; several possible species but material poor; local Trisetum spicatum Poaceae x x x x x x European alpine grass; alpine heaths and screes; local Aconogonum molle Polygonaceae x A taller version (1-2 m) of A. tortuosum; local Aconogonum polystachyum Polygonaceae x x x Tall cm shrub, angulate, showy white flowers; valley slopes; rare. Similar to A. tortuosum but larger Aconogonum tortuosum Polygonaceae x x x x x Divaricating branching herb-shrub, cm tall, dense white flowers; dry slopes; local Bistorta affinis Polygonaceae x x x x x x x Bright red flowers; locally common in open areas & heaths; v attractive Bistorta macrophylla Polygonaceae x x x x x x x x x Broad flower spikes, pink; common in alpine heaths & grazed areas; great variation in leaf shape. There may be an undescribed high alpine form with narrow linear leaves Bistorta perpusilla Polygonaceae x x x Minute perennial 1-3 cm tall; pink-purple flowers; growing amongst moss in crevices; rare; not in FOT Bistorta vaccinifolia Polygonaceae x x x x x x x Trailing subshrub, greyish ovate leaves; not seen in flower; open areas in heath;?rare Bistorta vivipara Polygonaceae x x x x x x x x x European alpine bistort; short stems with white flowers, red bulbils in lower part of flower; alpine heaths; frequent Fagopyrum esculentum Polygonaceae x x Buckwheat; cultivated Koenigia delicatula Polygonaceae x x x x x x x x x Slender annual with flowers in axillary clusters, 5-10 cm tall; wet soaks and below springs; rare Koenigia forrestii Polygonaceae x x x x Dense mats on rocks, minute stems, dense white flowers; locally common, especially at high elevations Koenigia islandica Polygonaceae x x x x x x x x x Iceland purslane of Skye, Mull, Iceland, Scandinavia, high Arctic, Rockies, & Patagonia; minute annual of open wet areas; rare Koenigia nepalensis Polygonaceae x x x x x x x x Minute annual of wet open areas; ovate leaves with appressed hairs on both surfaces and acute tip; locally frequent in open damp areas 45

56 Latin Name Family Notes Koenigia nummulariifolia Polygonaceae x x x x x x Dwarf mats smaller than K. forrestii, leaves barely hairy; shaded rocks; very rare; not in FOT Koenigia pilosa Polygonaceae x x x x x x x x x Similar to K. nepalensis but leaf hairs whitish; wet areas; rare Oxyria digyna Polygonaceae x x x x x x x x x European mountain sorrel; ovate or orbicular leaves; damp fine-grained screes and amongst boulders; frequent Persicaria runcinata Polygonaceae x Red, creeping knotgrass; open areas Rheum acuminatum Polygonaceae x x x x x x x Up to 1 m tall, dark red flowers; alpine meadows and nitrogen-enriched areas; local Rheum nobile Polygonaceae x Giant rhubarb; massive white bracts; rare, a few shredded and damaged plants seen Rumex cf. crispus Polygonaceae x x x British large dock Rumex nepalensis Polygonaceae x x Like European R. sanguineus; 1 m tall; damp grasslands; locally dominant Androsace delavayi Primulaceae x x x x x Beautiful tight cushions with long silky cilia on leaf margin, small stemless white flowers with yellow eye; open areas; rare Slender plant forming large mats, long peduncle with white or pink flower umbel heads, several flowers (4-10) per umbel; Androsace hookeriana Primulaceae x x x x shrub; local Androsace lehmannii Primulaceae x x x x x Large tight cushions with narrow leaves, white flowers with yellow eye; damp turf and rocky slopes; common Androsace sublanata Primulaceae x Similar to A. hookeriana. Det. D Zschummel Primula atrodentata Primulaceae x Small P. tibetica-type; rare Primula calderiana Primulaceae x x x x x x Distinctive globular seed heads, saggitate leaves Primula cf. denticulata Primulaceae x x Small rosettes, toothed no farina Primula cf. alpicola Primulaceae x Pale lemon-yellow flowers, smaller than P. sikkimensis but with olive-green leaves and rounded base, unwinged stalks, and a very close-set rugosity; wet streambanks; very rare Primula chionophila-type Primulaceae x x x Problematic even to John Richards! Wonderful plant with its disproportionately large solitary rarely paired flowers with reddish calyx and blue-violet corolla; Primula klattii Primulaceae x x x x x x damp areas and crevices; local Primula muscoides Primulaceae x x x x Dense dwarf cushion, distinct leathery leaves with 3-5 teeth, pale lilac fls with yellow or white eye; in moss; very rare Primula primulina Primulaceae x x x x x x x x x Dwarf plant forming extensive patches, fl purpish-blue with dense tuft of white hairs in throat; wet areas; frequent Primula sikkimensis Primulaceae x x x x x x x x Conspicuous tall yellow plant of streamsides and wet areas; common. All seemed to be var. sikkimensis to about 4500 m, above that plants were smaller and may be var. pudibunda Primula sp.2 Primulaceae x x Purple capitata-like flowers, largely over. AJ Richards indeterminable Primula sp.1 Primulaceae x Indeterminable - A.J. Richards Primula tenella Primulaceae x x x x Dwarf white farinose plant, flowers flat-faced up to 25 mm diameter, bluish with white eye, often stoloniferous with strawberry-like runners; open dry wind-exposed rocky areas; very local Primula tibetica Primulaceae x Attractive common plant with ovate-elliptic leaves, stems 2-10 cm with 1-12 pink flowers with yellow eye; damp areas; locally common/rare Araiostegia beddomei Pteridophyte x Forest; red-stipe slender fern; local Athyrium duthei Pteridophyte x x x Tall lady-fern; rocks; local Athyrium filix-femina Pteridophyte x x x British lady-fern; rocks and heath; occasional 46

57 47 Latin Name Family Notes Athyrium wallichianum Pteridophyte x Lady-fern; scrub; rare Botrychium lunaria Pteridophyte x x x x British Botrychium lunaria; surprisingly frequent, especially in plots Botrychium sp. Pteridophyte x x x Indeterminable Cryptogramma sp. Pteridophyte x x x Indeterminable Cryptogramma brunoniana Pteridophyte x x x x x x x x x Parsley fern; rocks; rare Dryopteris acutodentata Pteridophyte x x Male fern in Rhododendron heaths and screes; common Dryopteris barbigera Pteridophyte x x x x x x x Male fern; thick fronds; attractive; rocks; frequent Dryopteris serrato-dentata Pteridophyte x x Buckler fern; tall; forest; rare Equisetum arvense Pteridophyte x x x British common field horsetail; rare Huperzia tibetica Pteridophyte x x x x x x Clubmoss; alpine heath and rock crevices; rare Phegopteris connectilis Pteridophyte x British beech fern; heaths; very rare Phymatopteris oxyloba Pteridophyte x Forked fern; trees and rocks in forest; local Polystichum bakerianum Pteridophyte x Soft shield fern; tall; scrub and forest; rare Polystichum lachenense Pteridophyte x x Shield fern; tall; screes; rare Polystichum prescottianum Pteridophyte x x Slender shield fern; scrub; very rare Polystichum thomsonii Pteridophyte x x x x x x Small shield fern; boulders; rare Woodsia elongata Pteridophyte x x x Alpine Woodsia; cliff crevices and screes; rare Aconitum kongboense Ranunculaceae x x Tall white Aconitum; local Aconitum spicatum Ranunculaceae x x x Robust blue Aconitum, large leaves; grassland; local Anemone demissa Ranunculaceae x x White-blue anemone with several (3-6) flowers per stem; fibrous lf remains; heaths & grassland; locally common Anemone obtusiloba Ranunculaceae x x x x x x x x Very variable; solitary fls; white, sometimes bluish-purple on outside of sepals; heaths & grassland; locally frequent Anemone rivularis Ranunculaceae x x Variable white-blue anemone; branching flowering stems; damp areas; frequent Batrachium bungei Ranunculaceae x Pools; white flowers (Ranunculus) Batrachium eradicatum Ranunculaceae x White-flowered buttercup in pools by streams; rare Caltha palustris ssp. himalaica Ranunculaceae x x x x x x x King-cup; very variable; wet areas; local Clematis tibetana ssp. vernayi var. dentata Ranunculaceae x Dark-flowered, orange or bi-coloured; thick, leathery sepals; locally abundant Delphinium sp. Ranunculaceae x x x Tall, blue flowered Delphinium brunonianum Ranunculaceae x x High alpine species; not in full flower; pale mauve, short stems; hairy foliage Halerpestes tricuspis Ranunculaceae x x x x Creeping yellow buttercup in wet flushes; 3-lobed leaves; local (Ranunculus) Ranunculus brotherusii Ranunculaceae x x x x x x x x Small (up to 25 cm) yellow buttercup; divided basal leaves; rare Ranunculus longicaulis Ranunculaceae x Like R. flammula in UK; rare.?trifoliate leaves larger than R.tanguticus

58 Latin Name Family Notes Ranunculus membranaceus var. pubescens Ranunculaceae x Silver hairy leaves; rare Like European R. pygmaeus, v. small (up to 3 cm), minute yellow flowers, wet gravel & moraine, v. rare but easily Ranunculus pseudopygmaeus Ranunculaceae x x overlooked. Ranunculus pulchellus Ranunculaceae x x x x x x x x Common alpine yellow buttercup; up to 30 cm; basal leaves entire Ranunculus tanguticus Ranunculaceae x x x x x x x x Small trifoliate leaves Thalictrum alpinum Ranunculaceae x x x x x x x x European alpine meadow-rue; small and indistinct flowers, leaves distinct; local in alpine turf Thalictrum cf. atriplex Ranunculaceae x x Dull flowers; grey leaves; in bushes in steppe; rare Thalictrum cf. foliolosum Ranunculaceae x x x Tall (1-2 m) with large leaves; rare Cotoneaster sp. Rosaceae x x Larger but indeterminable Cotoneaster acuminatus Rosaceae x Low-growing shrub, ovate acuminate leaves with some hairs, red fruits; open areas & stable river-gravels; rare Cotoneaster cf. microphyllus Rosaceae x x x x x x x Low-growing prostrate shrub, elliptical or orbicular glossy green leaves, small scarlet fruits; open, well-drained sites; local Fragaria nubicola Rosaceae x x x Wild strawberry; many teeth on leaflets, silky whtie underside of leaves; scrub and heath; suprisingly rare European silverweed; solitary yellow fls, lvs interruptedly pinnate with large and small leaflets, silvery undersides; short turf Potentilla anserina Rosaceae x x x x x x x x x and open areas; common. Very variable and may include some records of P. lineata, P. leuconota and P. polyphylla Potentilla argyrophylla Rosaceae x = P. atrosanguinea, like P. saundersiana but more robust, leaflets always 3, yellow flowers, like a large European P. nivea; open areas on river gravel & riverbanks, amongst rocks, summit open areas; rare Potentilla bifurca Rosaceae x Low growing or small cushions with slender rhizomes, pinnate leaves. lateral leaves entire, small 1-5 yellow flowers; open rocky areas and grazed turf; rare? overlooked Potentilla cuneata Rosaceae x x x x x x x Three-foliate leaves, mat forming, small leaflets; open grassland, streamsides, rocky areas; frequent Potentilla fruticosa Rosaceae x x x x x x x x Common shrubby-cinquefoil, low-growing shrub with bright yellow flowers; many habitats; common. Very variable. Probably includes var. fruticosa and var. arbuscula of Flora of China 9 Potentilla leuconota Rosaceae x x x Very small, P. anserina-type Potentilla microphylla var. microphylla Rosaceae x x Dense cushions with pinnatisect leaves 1-6 cm with 7-9 pairs of leaflets, bright yellow flowers; alpine grassland; frequent Potentilla microphylla var. tapetodes Rosaceae x Like P. microphylla var. microphylla but with very small leaves with only 2-3 pairs of leaflets; open turf; rare or? overlooked as var. microphylla Potentilla peduncularis Rosaceae x x x x x x Very large tufted version of P. anserina with regularly pinnate leaves and large flowers; grassland; local to very common. Called 'giant P. anserina' Potentilla polyphylla Rosaceae x x x Robust yellow flowered Potentilla; rare Potentilla saundersiana var. caespitosa Rosaceae x x x x x x Small herb with palmate 5-foliate leaves, solitary flowers; open alpine turf and summit areas; rare. Very similar to P. forrestii in Flora of Bhutan and European P. nivea Potentilla sp. Rosaceae x Indeterminable Potentilla sp.1 Rosaceae x Small distinctive plant, neat yellow flowers with small orange spots, rather like European P. crantzii; very rare. Does not key out in Flora of China 9 (only 88 species!) Potentilla sp.2 Rosaceae x Like very small P. peduncularis but small single plants, possibly a form of P. stenophylla or P. commutata but material is very poor; yak grazed and trampled areas; rare 48

59 Latin Name Family Notes Potentilla tapetoides Rosaceae x x Attractive cushions, finely divided leaves; open high sites; rare Rosa macrophylla Rosaceae x Attractive rose with large 1-2 purplish-pink flowers; dry slopes; local Rosa sericea Rosaceae x Erect shrub 1-3 m tall, creamy white flowers with 4(-5) petals; dry slopes & sheltered rocky areas; frequent. Very variable taxon with var. sericea and var. pteracantha (broad prickles) Rosa sericea var. pteracantha Rosaceae x Erect shrub 1-3 m tall, creamy white flowers with 4(-5) petals; dry slopes, streamsides, & sheltered rocky areas; frequent Sanguisorba diandra Rosaceae x Tall 'great burnet' type plant, reddish green or purple flowers; damp grassland and forest openings; rare Sibbaldia cuneata Rosaceae x x x x x x x x Common small Sibbaldia; low mat-forming herb, 3-foliate leaves with long white hairs, minute yellow flowers; short turf Sibbaldia perpusilloides Rosaceae x x Very small shiny leaves, largish whtie flowers; shaded rocks; very rare UK & European, emblem of RBGE; low-growing herb, like a Potentilla but 5 stamens, small rather inconspicuous yellow Sibbaldia procumbens var. aphanopetala Rosaceae x x x x x x x x x flowers; alpine turf on damp soils; frequent. Curiously not in FOT. European plant is var. procumbens Sibbaldia purpurea var. purpurea Rosaceae x x x x x Small low-growing herb with grey silky leaves, red or solitary purple flowers; alpine turf & rock crevices; local Sorbus microphylla Rosaceae x x x Shrub or tree, leaves 1-pinnate with >12 pairs, sharply serrate, rose pink or white tinged pink flowers, white fruits; rare Low-growing (up to 50 cm) bush with branching stems, greyish-green small leaves, flowers white to pink; alpine heath; Spiraea alpina Rosaceae x x x x frequent Spiraea arcuata Rosaceae x x x x Shrub up to 1 m, stiff shining, strongly ribbed, arching branches, pink flowers; alpine heath; very rare Spiraea bella Rosaceae x x Shrub up to 1.5 m, leaves up to 15 cm, large white or pink flowering heads; scrub & wood edges; rare Galium sp.2 Rubiaceae x Indeterminable Galium sp.1 Rubiaceae x x Poor material on glacial end-moraine, not in flower; very rare Salix calyculata Salicaceae x x x x x Broad-leaved dwarf-willow; wet areas; rare; not in Flora of Tibet Salix daltoniana Salicaceae x x x x Tall willow in damp areas; frequent Salix flabellaris Salicaceae x x x x x x x Broad-leaved dwarf-willow; heaths and rocks; rare Salix lindleyana Salicaceae x x x x x x x x x Very small-leaved dwarf-willow; heaths; rare Salix pseudomyrsinites Salicaceae x x Leike European (and Scottish) S. myrsinites shrub; rare Salix sclerophylla Salicaceae x Shrub willow along streams and rivers; locally common Salix serpyllum Salicaceae x x x x x x Dwarf-willow; reddish tinge, broad leaves; glabrous; wet areas; rare Thesium sp.1 Santalaceae x x x x Probably T. emodi but not in flower; grassland; very rare Bergenia purpurascens Saxifragaceae x x x x x x x Large round leaves, pink flowers, mainly over; wet flushed areas & wet rocks; local Saxifraga caveana Saxifragaceae x x x x x x Loose tufts with short stems and yellow flowers with orange-red spots, lightly glandular stems, basal leaves obtuse with no awn point; rock crevices; rare Saxifraga cf. hirculoides Saxifragaceae x x Saxifraga contraria Saxifragaceae x Very small (2 cm) glabrous plant with solitary stems and small yellow flowers, some with red spots, leaves opposite; open areas; very rare Saxifraga diapensia Saxifragaceae x x Attractive yellow flowered, loose cushions; rare 49

60 Latin Name Family Saxifraga diversifolia Saxifragaceae x x Notes Gentle cushions with large basal lightly hairy leaves, brown hairy stem, yellow flowers; v. rare. Seems to be var. angustibracteata Saxifraga dungbooii Saxifragaceae x x x A small S. melanocentra with white petals, red sepals, ovate-oblong entire leaves; wet areas; local Saxifraga engleriana Saxifragaceae x x x x x Cushions with tight elliptic glabrous leaves, flowers yellow with orange or red spots; rock crevices & scree; rare Loose tufts with yellow flowers +/- orange-red spots on short 1-2 cm gladular stems, dark sepals, ovate-lanceolate leaves, Saxifraga glabricaulis Saxifragaceae x x ciliate; amidst rocks & open summit areas; rare Saxifraga hirculoides Saxifragaceae x x x x x x x x Very like European S. hirculus except it grows in dry rock crevices instead of wet flushes! Saxifraga hirculus Saxifragaceae x x European plant; rare Saxifraga jacquemontana Saxifragaceae x x x x x x Cushion with yellow sessile flowers, spathulate leaves; open areas on glacial end-moraine; very rare Saxifraga kingdonii Saxifragaceae x x x x x x Elegant yellow-flowered species, leaves with prominent hairy margins; local Saxifraga melanocentra Saxifragaceae x x x x x x x x x White petals with yellow spots, entire or mildly lobed leaf; damp areas; frequent. A very variable taxon with many chromosome numbers according to Flora of China Saxifraga moorcroftiana Saxifragaceae x Robust yellow-flowered plant, broad Hypericum-type leaves; rare Saxifraga naxaoides Saxifragaceae x Attractive yellow-flowered species, simple lanceolate-ovate leaves; rare Saxifraga pallida Saxifragaceae x x x x x x Slender white fl like European S. stellaris, no coloured spots as in S. melanocentra; damp areas; rare Saxifraga perpusilla Saxifragaceae x x x Small weakly dense tufts, spathulate leaves with few cilia, yellow flowers +/- orange spots, imbricate stem leaves; open summit areas and crevices; rare Saxifraga saginoides Saxifragaceae x x x x Tight cushions with small linear leaves, small solitary sessile yellow flowers; rock crevices, summit areas, open areas; local Saxifraga sp. Saxifragaceae x Indeterminable Saxifraga stella-aurea Saxifragaceae x Tufts with ovate-spathulate leaves, solitary yellow flowers +/- orange-red spots; rock crevices; very rare Saxifraga tangutica Saxifragaceae x x x x x x x Tallish (5-10 cm) reddish-brown stems, orange-red flowers; open damp areas; local Saxifraga unguiculata Saxifragaceae x Loosely tufted plant with yellow flowers +/- orange spots on 2-4 cm stems, linear leaves with minute cilia along margin; rock crevices and cliffs; very rare, possibly overlooked Dense fruiting inflorescence very distinct, cm tall, flowers white with purple streaks, like E. scottica in UK; alpine turf; Euphrasia chumbica Scrophulariaceae x x x very rare Euphrasia jaeschkei Scrophulariaceae x x x x Small annual eyebright, sparsely pubescent, middle lobe of flower wide; damp grassland; rare Euphrasia melanosticta Scrophulariaceae x x Conspicuous black blotches on the hair bases on calyx and floral leaves, hence the name melanosticta; open turf; very rare Euphrasia regelii ssp. kangtiensis Scrophulariaceae x x x Small annual eyebright, like E. jaeschkei but middle lobe of flower narrow; grassland and streamsides; rare; = E. kingdonwardii (nicer name!) Lagotis integra Scrophulariaceae x x x Elongated blue-white inflorescence, leaf margins sparsely serrulate; rare Elongated dark blue inflorescence, leaf margins coarsely toothed, serrate bract margins; wet areas on Sha-u La; locally Lagotis kongboensis Scrophulariaceae x x x x frequent Very variable in size and flower colour, fleshy leaves, flowers blue or pale violet turning white; wet areas and damp scree; Lagotis kunawurensis var. sikkimensis Scrophulariaceae x x x locally frequent. Not in Flora of China or Flora of Tibet Neopicrorhiza scrophulariiflora Scrophulariaceae x x x x x Distinctive purple-flowered plant with broad toothed leaves; grassland & open areas; local. Heavily collected for its roots 50

61 Latin Name Family Notes Pedicularis anas ssp. anas Scrophulariaceae x x Pale pink-white flowers, dark stem cm, finely divided leaves; open areas, turf; local Pedicularis anomala Scrophulariaceae x Tall (30-40 cm) plant with pink very flat flowers (anomalous!) & broad barely divided leaves; forest banks; rare Low-growing plant with many dense, short (1-2 cm) pink flowering shoots above basal rosette of divided leaves; open turf Pedicularis cf. nana Scrophulariaceae x and summit areas; rare. Specimens not fully developed or were grazed Pedicularis cheilanthifolia ssp. cheilanthifolia Scrophulariaceae x x x x Beautiful low-growing plant, pale pink flowers at base, upper tube deep red; local Pedicularis confertiflora Scrophulariaceae x 10 cm tall, slightly hairy, red-rose flowers, bent galea, opposite leaves; open turf; local Pedicularis croizatiana Scrophulariaceae x x x x x Spectacular small pure lemon-yellow plant, long floral tube; open turf and rocky areas; locally frequent Pedicularis daltonii Scrophulariaceae x x Striking small (2-5 cm) plant, densely hairy basal leaves, large deep purple flowers, prominent bent galea; heath and grassland; rare Attractive large robust mauve flowers on short stems, indistinct glaea; open turf and edge of rocky areas; frequent. Called Pedicularis elwesii Scrophulariaceae x x x x x P. bella in field Pedicularis gracilis ssp. gracilis Scrophulariaceae x Tall attractive pink flowers, flowers also in axils of stem leaves, broad basal lip of flower, large divided basal leaves; rare Erect 10 cm stems, densely pubescent, deep red-crimson flower, galea strongly decurved at middle; turf; very rare. Not in Pedicularis cf. heydei Scrophulariaceae x Flora of China or Flora of Tibet, recorded from Sikkim & western Himalaya Pedicularis integrifolia ssp. integrifolia Scrophulariaceae x Short plant with deep purple flowers with long hooked tube; open turf; rare Pedicularis kansuensis Scrophulariaceae x x x x x x Tall pink, darker galea Pedicularis lachnoglossa Scrophulariaceae x x x Medium, reddish flowers, prominent downward-pointing tube; local Pedicularis longiflora var. tubiformis Scrophulariaceae x x x Spectacular yellow fl +/- dark stripe on upper parts, very long tube, stems very short; wet areas; locally common Pedicularis megalantha Scrophulariaceae x x x x Very tall and showy purple plant at Nyalam campsite; grassland; locally common Pedicularis mollis Scrophulariaceae x x x Tall ( cm), much branched plant with small deep purple flowers; grassland; very rare Low-growing plant with many dense, short (1-2 cm) pink flowering shoots above basal rosette of divided leaves; open turf Pedicularis nana Scrophulariaceae x x x x x x and summit areas; rare. Not in Flora of Tibet or Flora of China but is in northern Bhutan Attractive 5-8 cm tall plant, pale yellow corolla with some red or purple, distinctive basal leaves; short grassland or open Pedicularis oederi ssp. oederi Scrophulariaceae x turf; local Pedicularis pectinata Scrophulariaceae x x x Striking tall upright plant, dense pink flowers; local Low-growing (up to 5 cm) small pink & white flowers, some hairs but not densely hairy; open grassland by Rutok birchwood, Pedicularis roylei ssp. roylei Scrophulariaceae x and alpine heaths; occasional Pedicularis siphonantha Scrophulariaceae x x x x x Attractive small plant with long pink tubular flowers and charactersitic white markings on galea; open turf and gravel; frequent Pedicularis trichoglossa Scrophulariaceae x x x x x Tall purple-mauve plant with 'hairy nose'; turf and heaths; local Veronica ciliata ssp. cephaloides Scrophulariaceae x x x x x x x Very small plant, large pubescent basal leaves, pale blue flowers with virtually no stem; open areas and amongst rocks; rare Veronica eriogyne Scrophulariaceae x x Low-growing plant with dense deep blue flowers, hairy leaves; open alpine turf and heath; very rare Veronica hirsuta Scrophulariaceae x x x x Veronica lanuginosa Scrophulariaceae x x x Spectacular small plant with densely silky leaves, deep blue fl; stable screes and summit areas; rare 51

62 52 Latin Name Family Notes Daphne retusa Thymelaeaceae x Low shrub, purplish flowers; rocky areas; rare Stellera chamaejasme Thymelaeaceae x x Surprisingly rare; dry areas; white with red tubes Urtica hyperborea Urticaceae x Alpine nettle; screes and amongst rocks; broadly ovate leaves;?under-recorded or really rare = N. grandiflora; rose-pink flowers, fragrant, narrow leaves; root is a substitute for valerian; mainly alpine grassland; Nardostachys jatamansi Valerianaceae x x x x common Viola biflora Violaceae x x x x x x x European alpine violet; yellow flowers; shady sites and in turf; rare Total spp per band Genera per band Families per band

63 Two conspicuous species of Pedicularis in the Cogarbo Valley Pedicularis megalantha Pedicularis croizatana

64 Meconopsis tibetica THE plant of the Cogarbo Valley its capsule in fruit

65 53 Daily Accounts Lhasa to Kharta 5 August 2009 We first drove to Nangtse Jakeng, north west of Lhasa and La Duo and Lhag Chong showed a picture of a herbarium specimen of Meconopsis torquata to an elderly farmer. He immediately recognised it and said it grew high in the mountains behind the village. He agreed to go and look for it with his son and return with a plant on the next day. We then drove and botanised in a valley south of Kyi Chu at m. It was an area of dry rocky slopes with a small gorge and extensive agricultural fields. We saw a total of 88 species, several of which were of interest. These included the small fern Lepisorus waltonii, Corallodiscus kingianus, and Cryptogramma brunoniana on rocks in the gorge. Field margins and roadsides were surprisingly rich with Delphinium kamaoensis, Dolomiaea macrocephalus, Trigonotis tibetica, Lasiocaryum munroi, Eritrichium lasiocarpum, E. laxum, Onosma hookeri var. longiflorum, Sedum glaeobosum, Artemisia roxburghiana, A. minor, A. santolinifolia, and Arisaema flavum (see Table 3). 6 August 2009 We drove to Cha La, north east of Lhasa and botanised by the roadside (column 6a in Table 4) at 4200 m and then on the screes and alpine grasslands of Cha La (column 6b in Table 4). A total of 189 species were noted. Plants of particular note included Syncalathium roseum (erroneously identified originally as S. kawaguehii based on the picture in Yoshida (2005), whereas Flora of China states that S. kawaguehii is blue and S. roseum is pink: the Cha La plants were all pink), Pedicularis muscoides, P. anas ssp. tibetica, Oreosolon unguiculatus, Saussurea pumila, S. cf. taraxicifolia, S. wernerioides, S. salwinensis, S. cf. sericea, Gentiana tibetica, G. atuntsiensis, G. urnula, G. flexicaulis, G. choanantha, Saxifraga nangxianensis, S. rotundipetala, S. brunonis, Christolea crassifolia, Pegaeophyton minutum, P. scapiflorum spp. robustum, P. scapiflorum spp. scapiflorum, Senecio albopurpurea, and Chionocharis hookeri (not in flower). We then returned to Nangtse Jakang where we were given seven plants of Meconopsis torquata, one of which had flowered and was in seed and six of which had not flowered. Meconopsis horridula had been growing with M. torquata. Meconopsis torquata thus still grows in southern Tibet in the same general area where collectors such as Walton in 1904, Ludlow in 1942, and Sherriff in 1943 had visited. We are preparing a note about M. torquata in Tibet for The Rock Garden, the journal of the Scottish Rock Garden Club. 7 August 2009 We drove by Land Cruisers from Lhasa to Shigatse (380 km), making various stops on the way (columns 7a 7e in Table 3). a) Yarlung Tsangpo viewpoint, 3960 m 17 species yak photo stop at Khamba La overlooking Yandrok Tsho, 4794 m b) the 101 km road marker, 4665 m 84 species c) Karo La of the flanks of the Mt Nojin Kangtsang Glacier, 5030 m 40 species d) lunch stop nearby, 4705 m 16 species e) Simi La, 4415 m 19 species Gyantse Dzong and water powered tsampa mill. With so many short stops in a range of habitats (rock outcrops, roadsides, screes, grassland), a large number of species (125) were seen. There were many species of interest including Androsace graminifolia, A. cuttingii, A. cf. mariae, Pedicularis globifera, P. mollis, P. lachnoglossa, P. nana, P. alaschanica ssp. tibetica, Corydalis dubia, C. hookeri s.l., C. inopinata, Christolea pumila, Delphinium caeruleum, Dracocephalum heteropyllum, D. moldavica, Saussurea kingii, S. prostrata, Scutellaria cf. likiangensis, Rheum spiciforme, Eritrichium laxum, E. canum, Onosma hookeri var. longiflorum,

66 54 Gentiana carinata, and Pulicaria insignis. Altogether an excellent day s botany with many species of note. 8 August 2009 We drove in Land Cruisers from Shigatse to Kharta over Tra La (4050 m) and Yulong La (4530 m) before reaching Lhatse and then over the Gyatso La (5225 m stop 8a, Table 3; 22 species) into the Qomolangma National Nature Preserve. We visited the National Park Centre at Shegar for permits, passport checks, and good mountain views before botanising on Pang La (5170 m stop 8b, Table 3; 54 species). We then drove through Tashidzom and along Rong Phu Chu to our campsite at Chutang near Kharta (3650 m stop 8c, Table 3; 10 species). A total of 69 species were seen, mainly along open roadsides, in scree, and on disturbed ground. Plants of interest seen included Soroseris pumila, S. hirsuta, Solms laubachia retropilosa, S. cf. eurycarpa, Leontopodium nanum, L. brachyactis, Phyllophyton nivale, Eriophyton wallichii, Onosma waltonii, Meconopsis horridula, Microulia tibetica, and Ajania purpurea. Compared with our previous drive in 2005 from Lhasa to Kharta (3 days, very bad roads, and a vehicle misadventure) our 2009 journey in 2 days was a real luxury! 9 August 2009 We all squeezed into one Land Cruiser for a short drive to Yueba (3640 m). We then botanised from there to Samchung La (4600 m) and camped below the pass at Dingjin (4460 m) by the main path. This was a very rich day botanically with 250 species recorded (any day with 200+ species is remarkable I have only had a few such days in 71 expeditions, for example, in the Austrian Alps, Drakensberg, NW Yunnan, Tibet 2005, Tian Shan). There were, of course, many plants of note (see Table 3) including Botrychium lunaria, Gentiana micans, G. recurvata, Parnassia delavayi, Rheum acuminatum, Soroseris hirsuta, S. glomerata, Cuscuta chinensis, Halenia elliptica, Youngia depressa, Cremanthodium oblongatum, Ligularia cremanthoides, Saxifraga tangutica, Pedicularis trichoglossa, Arenaria glanduligera, and, pride of joy, Meconopsis tibetica growing exactly as described by Howard Bury (1922) but not as big or as luxuriant as his account, perhaps a case of slight literary exaggeration! The population was healthy with plenty of young plants and almost all adult plants in fruit. The population occurred between 4150 m and 4600 m, with mature plants ranging from 41 to 92 cm tall and with developing seed heads. 10 August 2009 We walked back up to Samchung La to survey the Meconopsis tibetica population in terms of plant growth and performance. These data plus additional plant morphological data not presented in Grey Wilson (2006) will be prepared for publication in The Alpine Gardener. A small number of plants (52; Table 3) were recorded on the pass and during the move to the Tsonama camp (4210 m) at the northern end of the Cogarbo Valley. Hilary Birks and Johannes Grytnes started collecting bryophytes and macrolichens. Of the 52 vascular plants recorded, the most interesting were Saussurea obvallata (only seen on a steep inaccessible slope by a waterfall), Corydalis purpocalcarata, C. jigmei, C. rasimiriana ssp. brachycarpa, C. stracheyi, Saussurea purpurescens, S. andersonii, Swertia hookeri, Saxifraga glabricaulis, Lagotis kunawurensis var. sikkimensis, and Hippolytia gossypina. Cogarbo Valley August 2009 The Cogarbo Valley provides a wide range of habitats Rhododendron heath, alpine grassland, lake margins, swamps and fens, rock outcrops, boulder strewn slopes, scree, late snow patches, windexposed ridges, and footpaths. There is even a stone wall that Howard Bury sheltered behind from torrential rain in 1921 before returning to Kharta. The wall was built to keep out the ghurkas and is still visible today even at 5000 m elevation. We sheltered behind it for lunch on August 15.

67 55 We had four campsites in the Valley Tsonama, 4210 m, 2 nights; Tsokaphu, 4415 m, 2 nights; Daknapo, 4530 m, 2 nights; and Dingjin, 4460 m, 2 nights (Figure 1). The members of the expedition did various types of botanical surveys within the Valley. Hilary Birks and Johannes Grytnes collected mosses, liverworts, and macrolichens. David and Margaret Thorne recorded vascular plants in 100 m elevational bands to provide data on plant richness at different elevations. John Arvid Grytnes and John Birks recorded five 1 1 m vegetational plots in nine elevational bands ( m, m, m) giving a total of 45 plots. For each plot all species present (vascular plants, bryophytes, macrolichens) were identified and the percentage cover estimated. In addition John and Hilary recorded other plant occurrences in the different elevational bands. We thus acquired a dataset of plant richness based on plots and on elevational bands. In total, 507 species of vascular plant were found in the ten bands (the m band was barely surveyed) (Tables 5 & 6). These 507 species comprise 180 genera and 43 families (Table 6). Of the 507 species, the largest number are Asteraceae (63 species) followed by Scrophulariaceae (34), Rosaceae (31), and Gentianaceae (30) (Table 7). The richest genera (Table 8) are Pedicularis and Saxifraga (22 species each) followed by Gentiana (17), Potentilla (13), and Saussurea (14). Table 6. Elevational band richness (507 species in total, 180 genera, 43 families) plus species per elevational band based on the plot data from Cogarbo Valley Band No. species No. genera No. families Plot species Table 7. No of species per family in the Cogarbo Valley (ordered by richness) Family No. species Family No. species Family No. species Asteraceae 63 Campanulaceae 10 Grossulariaceae 2 Scrophulariaceae 34 Liliaceae 10 Juncaginaceae 2 Rosaceae 31 Orchidaceae 10 Rubiaceae 2 Gentianaceae 30 Onagraceae 8 Thymelaeaceae 2 Apiaceae 23 Ericaceae 7 Betulaceae 1 Saxifragaceae 23 Salicaceae 7 Callitrichaceae 1 Polygonaceae 21 Fabaceae 6 Convolvulaceae 1 Ranunculaceae 21 Lamiaceae 6 Ephederaceae 1 Pteridophyte 20 Parnassiaceae 6 Euphorbiaceae 1 Poaceae 17 Geraniaceae 5 Iridaceae 1 Primulaceae 17 Berberidaceae 4 Orobanchaceae 1 Caryophyllaceae 16 Cupressaceae 4 Pinaceae 1 Cyperaceae 16 Papaveraceae 4 Plantaginaceae 1 Juncaceae 12 Balsaminaceae 3 Santalaceae 1 Brassiaceae 11 Dipsacaceae 3 Urticaceae 1 Crassulaceae 11 Caprifoliaceae 2 Valerianaceae 1 Fumariaceae 11 Chenopodiaceae 2 Violaceae 1 Boraginaceae 10 Diapensiaceae 2

68 56 Table 8. The richest genera in the Cogarbo Valley ( 6 species) in rank order Genus No. species Genus No. species Genus No. species Pedicularis 22 Arenaria 8 Salix 7 Saxifraga 22 Carex 8 Cyananthus 6 Gentiana 17 Epilobium 8 Parnassia 6 Potentilla 15 Leontopodium 8 Ranunculus 6 Saussurea 14 Aster 7 Rhodiola 6 Primula 13 Kobresia 7 Swertia 6 Corydalis 11 Pleurospermum 7 Juncus 10 Poa 7 Table 9. Cogarbo Valley plot data. Mean number of species per plot in total Plot Species per plot Band Mean no. plot species per band Total no. species per band 4165A B C A B A B A B

69 The numbers of species found in each vegetational plot are given in Table 9. The mean number of species in the plots per elevational band is also given in Table 9 along with the total number of species found in the plots per elevational band. The Cogarbo Valley flora with 507 species (Table 5) had very many species of note including Saussurea bhutkesh, S. gossipiphora, S. simpsoniana, S. uniflora, S. wernerioides, S. hieracioides, Primula klattii, P. primulina, P. tenella, Rheum nobile, Aconitum spicatum, Ligularia rumicifolia, Corydalis meifolia, C. tenuipes, C. latiflora, Meconopsis grandis, M. horridula, M. paniculata, M. tibetica, all six species of Koenigia, Delphinium brunonianum, a large range of Saxifraga including S. diapensia, S. caveana, S. dugbooii, S. kingdonii, S. naxaoides, and S. saginoides, and a wide variety of Pedicularis, Potentilla, Gentiana, and Swertia species. On August 18 we descended from the Dingjin campsite via Samchung La to Yueba and then by Land Cruiser to the Chutang campsite. Only 26 species were noted on the descent including Sorbus microphylla and the minute Bistorta perpusilla. Figure 1. Map of the Cogarbo Valley showing the route of the Expedition (red line) and the location of the campsites (red circles). The map is from the Mount Qomolangma (Sagarmatha) :100,000 map (Xi an Cartographic Publishing House)

70 58 North of Lhasa 19 August 2009 We drove from Kharta to Shigatse in Land Cruisers. Besides photographic stops at Pang La (5150 m) looking towards Chomolangma, Cho Oyo, and Shishi Pangma, and at Gyatsi La (5220 m), we stopped in high elevation steppe at 5050 m. We only recorded 21 species (Table 4). The most interesting were Delphinium candelabrum, D. caeruleum, Gentiana flexicaulis, Christolea crassifolia, Sedum prasinopetalum, and Chionocharis hookeri (not in flower). 20 August 2009 We drove from Shigatse to Lhasa in Land Cruisers and did little botanising except for a short stop on Karo La (5015 m), recording only 11 species (Table 4). These include Corydalis inopinata, C. mucronifera, Syncalathium roseum, and Androsace erecta. We said farewell with khatas, had a photographic stop in Gyatse (dzong and farmers market), and a hot lunch in Nakartse. We welcomed Shonil Bhagwat and Jan Salick at the Kyichu Hotel in Lhasa and discussed plans for the next few days along with La Duo and Lhag Chong. 21 August 2009 We headed north from Lhasa in Land Cruisers to our new base, Bai Ma Hotel in Damshung, north west of Lhasa. After settling in there we explored the high pass of Largen La (5190 m) where there are extensive fine grained screes and some wet areas. The flora was very rich with 134 species being recorded in an afternoon s botanical hunting (Table 4). Many interesting species were found with several species of Saussurea (a foretaste of what was to come elsewhere in the Buddha Mountain range) with S. katachaete, S. cf. thoroldii, S. sericea, S. andryaloides, S. andersonii, and S. cf. medusa; a range of Gentiana including G. urnula, G. straminea, G. depressa, G. carinata, G. flexicaulis, G. leucomelaena, and G. algida, and several species of Comastoma and Lomatogonium a real Gentianaceae paradise; a good range of small crucifers including Draba glomerata, D. oreades, D. alajica, and Malcolmia africana; and several attractive Boraginaceae including Microulia tibetica, Trigonotis tibetica, Eritrichium laxum, E. canum, and the dwarf Lasiocaryum munroi. Other species of note included the dwarf Persicaria glacialis, the unusual Lagotis integra, several Saxifraga species, and the locally common pink Syncalathium roseum. 22 August 2009 We drove from Damshung towards Zang Shung La (4600 m) and branched off to a valley in the east (Parkha: m) where we saw chortens, mani stones, and many Tibetan children. Although the area did not look very promising botanically, we listed a respectable 103 species (Table 4). In an area of abundant pikas and associated disturbed Kobresia pygmaea turf we found the unusual Przewalskia tangutica (Solanaceae). Other species of notes included Pedicularis muscoides, Gentiana tibetica, G. cf. ornata, Saussurea georgei, S. wardii, and Cyananthus microphyllus, all growing in heavily grazed short turf. 23 August 2009 The day started with short stops near the Galu Monastery and Lhag Chong s study site for Hippophae tibetana growing on river gravels in conjunction with masses of biting flies! We then drove up Suga La in the Buddha Mountain range and were able to drive 5300 m and to ascend slowly to 5500 m. We saw a staggeringly varied alpine flora (159 species; Table 4), much of which we had not seen before. Saussurea with 16 species was perhaps the gem with S. andersonii, S. andryaloides, S. cf. gyacaensis, S. cf. medusa, S. cf. pubescens, S. georgei, S. gnaphaloides, S. hookeri, S. inversa, S. namakawae, S. prostrata, S. quercifolia, S. salwinensis, S. thompsonii, S. wardii, and S. wernerioides quite amazing (and thank goodness for Flora of China Asteraceae now being available)! Saxifraga where equally well represented with 17 species including S. coarctata, S. consanguinea, S. diversifolia, S. engleriana, S. hirculoides, S. jacquemontana, S. litangensis, S. melanocentra, S. moorcroftiana, S. parnassifolia, S. rotundipetala, S. saginoides, S. sphaeradena, and S. stella aurea. There were many other plants of note including Delphinium glaciale, Draba glomerata forming wonderful hairy cushions with small white flowers, Cremanthodium ellisii, Corydalis cashmeriana, C. conspersa, C. inopinata, C. jigmei, C. melanochlora agg., C. mucronifolia,

71 59 Tibetia tongolensis, Artemisia rutifolia, Arenaria bryophylla, A. ciliolate, A. edgworthiana, A. glandulifera, A. kansuensis, A. polytrichoides, and a great range of Rhodiola species (R. bupleuroides, R. cf. fastigata, R. crenulata, R. himalensis, R. prainii, R. sacra, R. tibetica, R. sp.). It was a most amazingly rich area and its richness naturally makes one wonder what else is to be found in the vast Buddha Mountain range and the even larger Nyenchen Tanglha Shan range. Access is clearly a major problem but the botanical rewards are likely to be great and would justify the effort of trekking into the range and of camping for several day. 24 August 2009 We drove from Damshung to Rutok over Cha La (4005 m), an area we had visited on 6 August (Table 4). On our second visit we were less active than previously and we only recorded 69 species (Table 4). We were mainly looking at the area as a whole as a potential GLORIA study site (see below) and for species that we had not recorded earlier. Some species of interest were found including Persicaria runcinata, Aconitum hookeri, Dolomiaea calyophylla, Taraxacum eriopodum, T. tibeticum, and Euphrasia jaeschkei. 25 August 2009 We spent a not very pleasant night at Rutok and drove up to Ba La (Mi La), an excellent area we had taken the AGS to in July 2005 (Birks et al. 2006, 2007). As we drove higher, fresh snow became more apparent, and by the time we had reached the top of the pass, it was snowing heavily and all the flora and vegetation were buried under snow. Despite these conditions, David and Margaret intrepidly set out and were able to find an amazing 41 species (Table 4) including Saussurea globosa, S. purpurescens, S. salwinensis, S. stella, Chionocharis hookeri (not in flower), Rhododendron nivale, Corydalis pygmaea, Tibetia tongolensis, Koenigia nepalensis, Androsace delavayi, Primula tibetica, and Pedicularis cf. corymbilifera a most amazing set of finds in nearimpossible conditions. Given the atrocious conditions, the weather forecast for the next few days, and the awful accommodation at Rutok, we decided to return to the comfort of the Kyichu Hotel in Lhasa. 26 August 2009 The party largely rested, sorted out and dried bryophyte and lichen collections, caught up on notes, and visited Lhasa and its market with our Tibetan hosts. David and Margaret visited the Dode Valley to botanise and photographed a rich flora (not listed in the tables) including Gentiana waltonii, G. ornata, Meconopsis horridula, Arenaria eudonta, Swertia hispidcalyx, Saussurea cf. taraxacifolia, Selaginella pulvinata, Rhodiola prainii, Onosma hookeri var. longiflorum, O. waddellii, Cirsium cf. falconeri, Oxytropis lapponica, Xanthopappus subacaulis, Pterocephalus hookeri, Eritrichium canum, Campanula pallida, Arisaema flavum, Clematis tibetana ssp. tibetana, and Corallodiscus kingianus. After a final dinner in the Kyichu Hotel, we left Tibet on 27 August and flew to Kathmandu and enjoyed the luxury of the Shangri La Hotel and the hospitality of our Nepalese friends and discussed Himalayan botany with Nepalese colleagues and students and Shonil and John gave lectures at a seminar on biodiversity on 28 August. Discussion, Conclusions, and Final Comments These fall into four parts flora, species richness patterns, GLORIA site selection, and conclusions. 1. Flora A total of 868 species of vascular plants was seen on the 2009 Expedition. Of these 507 were found in the Cogarbo Valley. In 2005 the AGS Expedition (Birks et al. 2006) recorded 553 species on their trek in the Kangshung area (18 27 July 2005) just to the west of the Cogarbo Valley.

72 60 When the 2005 and 2009 lists are compared for these areas, the main differences are due to the fact that the two expeditions were at different times of the flowering season. Many more Primula species were seen in 2005, whereas many more Asteraceae and Gentianaceae species were found in Floristically the biggest surprise on the 2009 Expedition was the staggering richness of the flora in the Buddha Mountain range, with a high richness and a flora with very many species that we did not find in the Kangshung Kharta Cogarbo areas in 2005 or In 2005 when we visited Mi La on 12 July and found 151 species, 45 of which we did not see again on the 2005 Expedition, I concluded The Mi La area is clearly very rich and it would repay further searching (Birks et al. 2006). Unfortunately our attempts on 25 August 2009 to revisit Mi La were thwarted by fresh snow and atrocious conditions, so its potential floristic richness remains to be explored more fully. However, to the west of Mi La in the same large geological and topographical unit of the Nyenchen Tanglha Shan, we were able to visit Suga La (5300 m) on 23 August 2009 and Largen La (5190 m) on 21 August There we found over 220 species that we had not seen in the Cogarbo Kangshung areas of the Tibetan Himalaya to the south. These species are in many genera including Saussurea, Saxifraga, Pedicularis, Gentiana, Corydalis, Rhodiola, Draba, Delphinium, Comastoma, and Artemisia. Several of the species found are, according to the distributional data of Flora of China endemic to Xizang or endemic to Xizang, Yunnan, and Sichuan. Clearly more intensive and extensive botanical surveys are needed in this area. Interestingly, this mountain range has been shown to support a diverse endemic fauna of ground beetles and oribatid mites (Torstein Solhøy, personal communication, October 2009). 2. Species richness patterns in the Cogarbo Valley One of the specific aims of the 2009 Expedition was to explore how species richness of vascular plants changes with elevation in the Cogarbo Valley. We collected two types of richness data enumeration (as far as possible) of all species within a 100 m elevation band (Table 6) and recording all species within five 1 1 m plots situated within representative stands of vegetation with a 100 m elevation band (Table 9). As Table 6 shows, species richness (and also genus and family richness) in the elevational bands decreases with increasing elevation: from 277 species in the m band to 105 species in the m band. However, the plot data (Tables 6 and 9) show little variation in richness with elevation. Clearly more analytical work is needed using the plot data. The species totals in Tables 6 and 9 are based on all species of vascular plants and bryophytes and macrolichens, whereas the elevational band totals (Table 6) are based entirely on vascular plants. These richness data will be analysed by John Arvid Grytnes and John Birks in the near future. The data (Table 5) from the elevational bands reveal many new features about the elevational occurrences of species, with some species occurring at all elevations (e.g. Cortia depressa, Cortiella cf. hookeri, Stellaria decumbens, Cyananthus pedunculatus). There is, not surprisingly, many species that primarily occur at low elevations within the Valley (e.g. Peristylus cocloceras, Meconopsis grandis, M. paniculata, Ligularia rumicifolia, Cyananthus lobatus, Spiraea arcuata, S. alpina, Aconitum spicatum, Corydalis crispa, Acanthocalyx chinensis, Juniperus indica, J. squamata). Some are confined to mid elevations (e.g. Spongiocarpella purpurea, Polygonatum hookeri, Primula tenella) and some are restricted to high elevations (e.g. Meconopsis horridula agg., Saussurea bhutkesh, S. simpsoniana, S. gossipiphora, Hippolytia gossypina, Veronica eriogyne, V. lanuginosa). Some species are rare such that no consistent elevational pattern emerges (e.g. Lagotis integra). The bryophyte and macrolichen collections are still being studied by the relevant taxonomic experts. Preliminary results are promising with several new or unusual species represented. Hopefully the final results will be written up for publication in an international journal as they will represent a significant contribution to knowledge of the Tibetan Himalayan cryptogamic flora.

73 Two of the many (too many!) Gentiana seen in the Cogarbo Valley Gentiana leucomelaena Gentiana tubiflora

74 Two attractive Primula species seen in the Cogarbo Valley Primula klattii Primula muscoides

75 61 3. Potential GLORIA sites in Tibet Jan Salick and Shonil Bhagwat in conjunction with La Duo, Lhag Chong, and John Birks assessed six possible sites for GLORIA investigations. They were 1. Largen La near the lake Nam Tso (21 August) 2. Parkha Valley (22 August) 3. Suga La (23 August) 4. Cha La (24 August) 5. Mi La east (25 August) 6. Mi La west (25 august) The criteria used in this assessment, in order of priority, were: i. Presence of summits along an elevational gradient ii. A variety of summits covering ecotones between tree line and snow line iii. Climatic gradient iv. Presence of weather data and climate change research station v. Presence of palaeoecological studies vi. Minimal disturbance A field assessment was carried out for each of the six sites based on the above criteria. The pros and cons of setting up GLORIA summits on each of these sites were listed. Using these criteria, three sites emerged as potentially suitable. Suga La came top with no cons, while Parkha Valley had no pros and was least favoured. Cha La was considered second best due to the presence of summits at all elevational gradients (criterion i) and a variety of summits covering all ecotones (criterion ii). Mi La west was considered third best because of the contrast it provides to the most favoured site, Suga La. Mi La west is the wettest of all sites visited while Suga La is the driest (criterion iii). Mi La east, Largen La, and Parkha Valley came fourth, fifth, and sixth, respectively according to the criteria employed. On the basis of the 2009 fieldwork, we recommend setting up GLORIA sites at (1) Suga La, (2) Cha La, and (3) Mi La west. One minor concern about Mi La is its location. The area where this site is based has had recent political disturbance and acquiring permits for this site may be problematic. However, our Tibetan colleagues did not foresee any problem for acquiring permits to carry out work at Suga La and Cha La. Therefore, we strongly recommend that these two sites are the best candidates for setting up GLORIA plots in the future. Since the 2009 Expedition and this assessment, it has become impossible to set up GLORIA plots in Tibet for a complex of political, logistical, administrative, and financial reasons. These include the banning of the use of GPS equipment in Tibet, certain areas being closed to our Lhasa scientific colleagues, the banning of any plant collecting (a basic requirement for GLORIA studies) in these areas, and the apparent reluctance of Chinese authorities to allow Tibetan scientists to participate in international networks and projects. GLORIA fortunately has sites in Nepal, Bhutan, NW India, Sichuan, Qinghai, and Yunnan, so the great Sino Himalayan mountain region is well represented within the GLORIA network, but sadly Tibet is not. 4. Conclusions The 2009 Expedition was, overall, a great success with the Cogarbo Valley botanical surveys, some botanical explorations of the vast Buddha Mountain range, and finding of suitable sites for the GLORIA network. Since that Expedition, circumstances in Tibet have drastically changed and

76 62 opportunities for research by our Tibetan colleagues (and former students) in the Tibetan Himalaya or north of Lhasa have ceased totally. Even in 2009 they were not, at the last minute, allowed to leave Lhasa with us on 7 August to travel south to Kharta. We are naturally very glad that we have had the opportunities to explore the challenging botany of parts of southern Tibet in 2005 and 2009 but we are extremely saddened that further scientific work in Tibet does not currently seem possible. Acknowledgements I am greatly indebted to fellow members of the Expedition (Shonil Bhagwat, Hilary Birks, Johannes Grytnes, John Arvid Grytnes, Jan Salick, David Thorne, Margaret Thorne) for all their invaluable input, help, and tolerance; to Jampa of Tibet Wind Horse Adventures (Lhasa) for organising such a complicated expedition at very short notice and under such difficult conditions; to our Tibetan crew of Chongda, Chumbi, and Ming Ma (Land Cruiser drivers), Tenzin (lorry driver), Tashi (trek guide), Tsewang (cook), Sonan and Kesang (helpers), and Podum (non trek guide) for all their help and patience; to La Duo and Lhag Chong (Lhasa) for sharing so freely their skill and experience; to Kristine Dehli Høitmont (Oslo) and Helen Flå (Longyearbyen) for help with administration and budgets; to Jarl Giske (Bergen) for help with urgent money loans; to the late Torstein Solhøy (Bergen) for help about budgets and information about Tibetan fauna; to the various taxonomic experts (Kazumi Fujikawa, Josef Lemmens, Magnus Lidén, John Richards, Mark Watson, Dieter Zschummel) who have generously helped in the determination of particular groups; and to Cathy Jenks for her invaluable help and skill in preparing this report. The Expedition received financial support from many sources including the Network for University Co operation Tibet Norway, University of Bergen, Alpine Garden Society, Scottish Rock Garden Club, University of Oxford, Missouri Botanical Garden, and the National Geographic Society. We are all very grateful to these bodies for their financial support.

77 Two attractive alpines found above 5000 m on Suga La, Buddha Mountain Cremanthodium ellisii Delphinium glaciale

78 Two Soroseris or Soroseris like plants seen often on the Tibet 2009 Expedition Syncalanthum roseum (not seen in the Cogarbo Valley) Soroseris pumila

79 Two of the many Saxifraga species seen on the Tibet 2009 Expedition Saxifraga diversifolia Saxifraga engleriana

80 Chomoganga from Shukula La in the Buddha Mountain range north of Lhasa Meconopsis horridula growing on Pang La en route to Kharta from Shigatze