Bryocarpum

[DaveM]

At your service, folks. Enjoy!

Indeed, Leslie, its flower is distinctly Soldonella-like and its leaf rosette akin to Omphalogramma. There is also a wonderful black and white image in "A Quest of Flowers", the account of the amazing expeditions of Ludlow and Sherriff.

[ranunculus]

Many thanks Dave ... no wonder we all covet it!

[David Nicholson]

Does it produce offsets like Primulas do?

[DaveM]

All that I saw looked like single plants to me and there is no mention of offsetting in descriptions I've seen. However, if you look closely at the b&w picture below, it looks as though there are some offsets....... But most plants don't seem to last long in cultivation - those who flower it once have done really well!

Here's a scan of the picture (original must be by Sherriff) in the account by Harold Fletcher of L&S's expeditions. The species is mentioned only once, from the Phobsikha forests in Central Bhutan at 10-12000 feet. My photos were taken from about the same altitude trekking up the Phephe La, also in Cemtral Bhutan.

[Maggi Young]

reference on the AGS journal:
Entry                         Volume  Page 
Bryocarpum himalaicum    72     322,323C

Thanks, Mick, yes, lovely colour photo there, showing a strong clear yellow... you could eat it, it's so pretty!
It's in an article by Fred Hunt, "Himalayan Plants in a Scottish Garden"....from the September 2004 AGS Special Himalayan Issue....
Fred writes.........." Remaining with Primulaceae for the moment,I wish to draw attention to one of the gems of the family, the so-called 'yellow soldanella', Bryocarpum himalaicum.
This I raised from wild-collected seed received in May 1999 and sown immediately. This germinated (in)some four weeks, with two plants subsequently flowering in their second season and still surviving in pots plunged in a shaded cold-frame I am informed that the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh has successfully grown this choice species for a number of years. B. himalaicum  is a plant of the densely shaded forests of mainlt central Bhutan at 3050-3660m. "   

[ian mcenery]

I founfd this plant in flower in Bhutan last year and posted in on the forum here is the link

http://www.srgc.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=558.0

The locals called it bhutanese spinach

It was very Omphalogramma like and grows exactly as Maggi describes in quite dense forest.

[Maggi Young]

Thanks, Ian... I KNEW I'd seen it in the forum! Search didn't find it because of spelling difference, I think.... himalaicum here and himalayicum in your post!
Here is Ian's pic from that lovely thread from last year.....

[Lesley Cox]

reference on the AGS journal:
Entry                         Volume  Page 
Bryocarpum himalaicum    72     322,323C

YES!!! This is an excellent reference, thanks Mick and a super picture in an article by Fred Hunt who is still growing it apparently. The issue of the AGS Bulletin is a A Special Himalayan Issue with stunning pictures of amazing plants, especially primulas, lilies, gentians and the amazing Rheum nobile. If you don't have this issue, move the earth to obtain it.

[johnw]

What a spinach!

I hesitatingly post these shots from the friends who visited Bhutan this Spring. I will not be responsible for holes in monitors. The seed pods are only for viewing. I nearly dropped when I saw them.

Can you imagine the will-power to photograph them and with a clear conscience move on to another Genus? They are to be congratulated.

And what is the tiny blue thing to the left?

johnw
 

[Lesley Cox]

A primula probably, looks like at the top of the long stem, maybe just beginning to flower. How is it wilth all these Bryocarpums sitting around and apparently in cultivation as well, none has yet reached the seed lists? Not that we can have it here.

[Lesley Cox]

I wonder did Ian see it in the same place as John's friend, or very close by anyway? The same plant - which looks a little like a prostrate Rubus - in growing with plants in both postings.

[WimB]

It' really a stunning plant,

I think I'll put it on my wishlist too 

[Maggi Young]

"blue thing" is a primula going into fruit.
Problem with the Bryocarpum in cultivation is that they do not eem to live very long and are reluctant to set seed

[ian mcenery]

Lesley the plant was found in many spots- not in large quantities. I trekked above the Paro and Ha valleys

[ian mcenery]

John re identification of the primala depends where the photo was taken could be P Griffithii but I saw it above the Paro and Ha valley and Richards says that it only grows here

piccies from Bhutan on this link

http://www.srgc.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=558.0