Sikkim 2010

[Johan Nilson]

Here are some more plants from real high altitudes. The Saussureas are growing in scree at almost 5000 meters.


Rhodiola sp
Rheum nobile
Saussurea gossypiphora
Eriophyton wallichii
Tanacetum gossypinum (Hyppolytia gossypina)

[Luc Gilgemyn]

Very interesting report Johan !!
Thanks for showing !! 

[cohan]

Wonderful plants!
Love the Saussureas esp!
The Rhodiola--is that the foliage that is red?
Is this a dry area?

[Johan Nilson]

Aren't the Saussureas great, looking like little aliens/ghosts.
Yes the Rhodiola is the beautiful red cushion. I am guessing that it could be Rhodiola coccinea.
Posting a closeup..

I would say that for being Sikkim this was a rather dry area. But still not completely dry. On the north facing slope where we found the Saussurea gossypiphora there was still some humidity. You can see the wet rocks in the center of pic2. Guess that the drainage is absolutely perfect.

Another Saussurea for you..
at 4000 m with its feet in running water we were lucky to see Saussurea obvallata (pic 3) in good shape.  

[cohan]

I suppose those are tricky conditions in the garden unless your climate co-operates: perfect drainage, but never dry!

thanks for the Rhodiola images--very nice! I like Crassulaceae, but many Rhodiolas I have seen seem to have rather tall narrow stems, I like this lower shape better, and the colour!