Tian-Shan 2004

[DaveM]

Thanks Olga and Maggi for the id on the unknown crucifer - these certainly look the same plant. I don't recall the plant was "going over", Lori. There were a number of specimens on the scree and all had this creamy colour.

Olga - we also saw only one plant of the Saussurea......

The Ranunculus is magnificent and so abundant. Could this be R albertii?

Also the Erysimum, perhaps E humillimum?

[Maggi Young]

My first thought on seeing David's crucifer was that perhaps the photo had a bit of a colour cast, because of the creamy flowers and the very dark green foilage, but perhaps it is simply a local variation, by a result of particular minerals in that place, for instance??

[DaveM]

....or maybe Olga's is an albino form?

[DaveM]

Another plant I couldn't  begin to identify.......

From the screes above the Inylchek glacier at Merzbacher's Field.

[Lori S.]

....or maybe Olga's is an albino form?

The only form I've ever seen here (other than those affected by rust) have snowy white flowers, as in Olga's photos.

[cohan]

i should have had these photos before ordering seeds

Then you ordered more? 
Unfortunately most of this incredible plants could be grown in mild climate. Paraquilegia, Hegemone, Ranunculus, Gentians, Pyrethrum,  Smelovskia, Thylacospermum... All are hardy but long hot summers kill them. 

so many treasures, but special thanks for orostachys! pics are rare, and seeds so far impossible to find (except most common 1 or 2 sp)

I know Vojtech Holubec visited Tian-Shan this summer. May be you could find some seeds in his list?

no! i already ordered too many
i don't think vojtech had any orostachys on his list.... i think oros flower very late, maybe seeds arrive after the seed collectors have gone home?

[TheOnionMan]

Another plant I couldn't  begin to identify.......

From the screes above the Inylchek glacier at Merzbacher's Field.

Quaint little plant, do you think it might be a saxifrage?

[TheOnionMan]

....or maybe Olga's is an albino form?

The only form I've ever seen here (other than those affected by rust) have snowy white flowers, as in Olga's photos.

Given the range of Smelowskia calycina through much of the Northern Hemisphere, and the great variability of the species, I think the entry for this species in Flora of China just about sums it up:

Rocky slopes, gravelly hills, rocky crevices, alpine meadows; 2500-4900 m. Xinjiang [Afghanistan, India, Kashmir, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Pakistan, Russia (Far East, Siberia), Tajikistan; North America].

Smelowskia calycina is highly variable and has been divided in both Asian and North American accounts into several, poorly defined species or varieties. In the absence of authoritative studies on the species throughout its range, it is better not to recognize any infraspecific taxa. The Chinese plants are a good match for the type collection of the species. Synonyms pertaining only to C Asia are listed above.

http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=200009690