Revisiting Baimashan (Yunnan)

Anaphalis nepalensis v. monocephalus 4315m

This unassuming plant launches a rather lengthy series of pictures (that may take quite a few blog posts to accommodate!) from what maybe (if not my favorite, way ahead of most all) the most wonderful places I've ever been. I've been lucky enough to visit Baimashan on several different trips on different years: every hike saw an amazing new suite of plants--utterly different on the limestone areas mostly to the East of the pass--and the granite areas mostly on the West side. I hope I live long enough to return and spend more time on what has to be the most floriferous, rich spot among the hundreds of fantastic places I've wandered in my long life. We are so privileged to live on this precious planet. And I feel especially lucky to have wandered so much and so far!                                                               

Androsace delavayi  4315m

Androsace wardii 

Androsace wardii Baimashan 1 4315m

Androsace wardii 4315m

Anemone trullifolia var. linearis 

Arenaria spathulifolia 

Arenaria spathulifolia 

Asplenium viride

Aster salwinensis

Aster salwinensis

Aster salwinensis

Astragalus sp.

Baimashan summit

Berberis

Brassicaceae sp.

Cassiope pectinata

Cassiope pectinata and friends

Cerastium sp. 

Asteraceae sp.

Corydalis lathyrophylla

Corydalis sp.

Cremanthodium sp.

Cremanthodium sp.

Cyaanthus sp.

Gentiana sp.

Geranium donianum

Juncus aff, and Primula nanobella

Juniperus sp.

Larix sp.

Lepidostemon rosularis 

Lepidostemon rosularis 

Quercus sp.

Deqin (Atuntze)

Once you cross Baimashan you eventually descend to Deqin--the northernmost town in Yunnan--not far from the "border" with Tibet (although all of northernmost Yunnan is really in "greater Tibet". A city renowned for its