Baimashan part 2

Lilium euxanthum

Not one, but two miniature yellow lilies grow abundantly on Baimashan: They are distinguished by ecology (this species grows on the granitic soils, the other over limestone) and the petals on the granite loving species are not conjoined (as you'll see). Both are as cute as bugs ears: I have dozens of pictures of them and had a devil of a time picking which ones to show on the blog!

Lilium euxanthum

Here, growing with Rhododendron calostrotum ssp. keleticum--a tiny shrub that made unbrelievable masses as you will see...most of them peppered with this lily!

Lilium euxanthum

Here with Cassiope pectinata--which also carpeted the granite over acres. ACRES!

Lilium lophophorum

Here the limestone lover is shown as the flower ages to a mellow apricot color.

Lilium lophophorum

I know it's growing out of a rhodo: the yellow flowered R. rupicolum ssp. chryseum that grew only over limestone.

Meconopsis rudis

Oh..there were some blue poppies...

Meconopsis rudis

They grew very differently depending on their microclimate...

Meconopsis rudis

Pedicularis elwesii

Pedicularis elwesii

Polygonatum hookeri

I recognized the vegetative characters of this tiniest of Solomon's seals and was disappointed not to see it in bloom. In June of 2023 I was to find this on almost every alpine hike we took in Sikkim--growing almost always in sedge or grassy meadows--with lots of flowers lingering! And I have a tuft of it in my home garden to boot!

Ponenorchis chusua 

And orchid that's abundant all over Tibet and Sikkim as well.

Potentilla sp. 

There seem to be as many cinquefoils in the Himalayas as there are in the Rockies--and they do resemble one another!

Potentilla glabra being photographed by Harry Jans

The shrubby cinquefoil (suspiciously resemhling our native P. fruticosa)  came in all shades of white and yellow and grew in a variety of habitats.

Primula yargongensis

There were a number of primroses on the mountains--we only saw a few clumps of this species that I've grown myself.

Primula zambalensis

The killer primrose was this one, however, that filled swales with its heavenly blue color. How I would love to try and grow this: I think it may be amenable seeing how well it grew on bare rock and gravel!

Primula zambalensis

Primula zambalensis

Primula zambalensis

Rhododendrom calostrotum ssp. keleticum 

I shall never forget THIS display!

Rhododendrom calostrotum ssp. keleticum 

Rhododendrom calostrotum ssp. keleticum 

Rhododendrom calostrotum ssp. keleticum 

Rhododendrom calostrotum ssp. keleticum 

Rhododendrom primuliflorum 

There were a half dozen or more other rhodos...

Rhododendrom rupicolum ssp. chryseum 

My favorite (perhaps because it might adapt better to our gardens) was this soft yellow lepidote that grew only on limestone!

Rhododendrom rupicolum ssp. chryseum 

Rhododendrom (Lapponicum series) 

Salix lindleyana 

Sibiraea angustata  

The Siberian and Eurasian Sibiraea laevigata is sold and grown in Colorado--but this species was distinct and intriguing (although I admit it's not too showy!)

Sibiraea angustata

Thalictrum sp.

One of many meadow rues we found: this one high alpine. Not determined as to species yet!

Veronica szechuanica

We didn't see as many veronicas as I expected--but this was a distinctive and delightful species--here growing with Koenigia forrestii--a peculiar tiny Polygonaceae I was to see growing lustily in Cyril Lafong's stunning Scottish garden! 

Viola biflora

 

I end this second blog post about this great mountain with a plant that grows less than 40 minutes drive from my house as well (this violet grows over an astonishing range in Eurasia--but only in Colorado (thus far) in the lower 48. 

It would take many many more blog posts to show the phenomenal variety of plants I've seen on Baimashan: My four visits over the last five years have been among the most floriferous of a fantastically floriferous five years (don't try and say that quickly, by the way!) I will likely inflict more on you if you don't watch out!

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