A 2 week impulse trip to Yunnan

[dscherberich]

Ah yes, Bjarne's 2747 was identified for me a few years ago by Magnus Liden as Corydalis kokiana. I took the pictures at the feet of Shika shan I think it is the same. Here a picture ...

[arisaema]

Thank you, that must be it! The other one might just be a straggly form of C. pachycentra, there aren't that many species to choose from in series Curviflorae...

For the search engine I'll add that the Orobanchaceae is Boschniakia himalaica, and the yellow orchid is an Oreorchis of some sort. The latter occured in massive numbers, making it the second most numerous orchid species we saw on our trip.

[Maggi Young]

That yellow Oreorchis is a treat.

In this thread: http://www.srgc.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=6374.0  there was discussion about the germination of, shy-flowering nature and possible invasiveness of Lancea tibetica ..... you photo of it is delightful and I imagine will give hope to those trying to flower it and a feeling that even if it became a little over enthusiastic in growth that that would not be such a bad thing! 

[arisaema]

I figured it would be invasive after seeing how it behaved in a pot, but shy-flowering as well? It's lovely in the wild at least, I guess I should try it in the lawn instead of in a border...

[arisaema]

Napa Hai, Zhongdian, 3200m

Below ShikaShan, at the outskirts of Zhongdian town, lies the area called Napa Hai lake. The lake itself isn't very impressive as it dries up in summer, but the limestone hills surrounding it contain quite a few botanical treasures.

Bjarne; please join in!

[arisaema]

I'll start with some from the hills; including the only Epipactis we saw in flower, and, we both agreed, what has to be by far the ugliest species of the genus

Also below;

Tibetia sp., maybe T. tongolensis.
Asclepiadaceae sp., maybe a Cynanchum?
A Hylotelephium? Wide-spread in the area, but this one stood out with nicer foliage.
Rosa sp.

[Giles]

..it might be Rosa omeiensis pteracantha.
Any more photographs of the pale pink primula? ... (very nice colour and contrasting eye).

[dscherberich]

I second that! And the pink Primula at the foot of Shika Shan is Primula polyneura ...

[Bjarne]

Ok, here are some pictures from the area around Napa Hai:

[Bjarne]

and some more

[Lesley Cox]

I guess the red is Androsace bulleyana and I really like the blue above it. Any ideas? I was thinking a Dracocephalum or perhaps more likely, Scutellaria?

[Lori S.]

Scutellaria, yes.  Reminds me of the thing I grew as S. baicalensis, (but I think is not) which has similarly neatly paired flowers.

[arisaema]

I really liked the hybrid between Morina nepalensis ssp. delavayi and M. alba, both species grow all over the area, but the only place we saw the hybrid was at Napa Hai.

Also below;
the pure species M. delavayi
Onosma sp.
Lilium duchartrei? x2
Salvia przewalskii?
Ajuga sp.
Pedicularis sp.
Lonicera sp.

[arisaema]

I'd love to know what this pink-flowered shrub is?

Also below;

Deutzia
Syringa
Philadelphus
Ericaceae, maybe Vaccinium?

...and a picture showing the foliage of the Scutellaria

[dscherberich]

Nice pictures again! It is Salvia przewalskii indeed which is very common in the Zhongdian area and you can find some plants in flower until November! The Syringa is S. yunnanensis and the pink shrub is a Leptodermis (Rubiaceae) but I don't know the species.