Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum

General Subjects => Travel / Places to Visit => Topic started by: Oron Peri on June 25, 2010, 07:26:51 PM

Title: Yunnan and Sichuan
Post by: Oron Peri on June 25, 2010, 07:26:51 PM
Just came back from a botanical trip to Yunnan and Sichuan provinces in China.
Yunnan has one of the richest flora in the world with more than 14000 species,  about half of  China's flora, some are the most striking plants i have ever seen.
It wasn't the easiest trip as one have to get use to heights up to five thousand meters, starting the day with hot spicy noodles for breakfast but easily forgoten
by seeing these purple colored Rhododendron mountains, lakes and incredible views, 
Title: Re: Yunnan and Sichuan
Post by: Oron Peri on June 25, 2010, 07:36:57 PM
Taking photos in that part are difficult as the light changes every 5 minuets, these two dwarf Liliums are intresting, L. lophporum with its unique form, never open its petals, while L. soulei reminds of a fritillaria by its size and color.
Title: Re: Yunnan and Sichuan
Post by: Gerdk on June 25, 2010, 07:58:54 PM
by seeing these purple colored Rhododendron mountains

Oron,
A magical sight - looks like a wonder!
Thanks for showing it!

Gerd
Title: Re: Yunnan and Sichuan
Post by: Oron Peri on June 25, 2010, 07:59:36 PM
Arisaema are quite common, seems that each area has its own one, we have seen more than 10 species, some tend to variable in size and color.

 Arisaema candidissimum variants
 A. flavum
Title: Re: Yunnan and Sichuan
Post by: Oron Peri on June 25, 2010, 08:55:54 PM
 Mt. Kuluke [Sichuan],4700 mt. is home to some alpine plants.


DSC_0128.JPG
Iris dolichosiphon ssp[1]. orientalis.JPG
Arenaria sp[1]..JPG
Allium sp[1]..JPG
Title: Re: Yunnan and Sichuan
Post by: David Nicholson on June 25, 2010, 08:57:31 PM
Terrific photographs Oron, the Iris looks good enough to eat ;D
Title: Re: Yunnan and Sichuan
Post by: Pascal B on June 25, 2010, 09:21:03 PM
Great pictures of the Arisaema candidissimum variants, thanks for showing, very interesting!
Title: Re: Yunnan and Sichuan
Post by: Oron Peri on June 25, 2010, 09:32:49 PM
Thanks for the comments,

Cypripediums are real stars, often we have found up to four species growing together side by side.

Cypripedium yunnanense
Cypripedium tibeticum
Cypripedium plectrochilon
Cypripedium lichiangense
Cypripedium guttatum
Cypripedium flavum
C[1]. yunnanense
C[1]. tibeticum
Title: Re: Yunnan and Sichuan
Post by: Oron Peri on June 25, 2010, 10:11:30 PM
Meconopsis are quite rare, in particularly the blue ones which are breathtaking.

Meconopsis prattii
M[1]. prattii
Meconopsis integrifolia
Meconopsis pseudointegrifolia
Meconopsis lancifolia
Title: Re: Yunnan and Sichuan
Post by: PeterT on June 25, 2010, 10:35:16 PM
your pictures are breathtaking Oron, thankyou for showing them
Title: Re: Yunnan and Sichuan
Post by: arillady on June 25, 2010, 10:52:36 PM
Oron the pictures are marvellous - look forward to seeing more. This is the parts of China I would love to visit.
Title: Re: Yunnan and Sichuan
Post by: Graham Catlow on June 25, 2010, 11:01:03 PM
WOW :o
Now that is somewhere I would like to visit. Just the variety of plants that excite me.
Hope there's more to see.

Graham
Title: Re: Yunnan and Sichuan
Post by: fermi de Sousa on June 26, 2010, 05:33:16 AM
Oron the pictures are marvellous - look forward to seeing more. This is the parts of China I would love to visit.
Pat,
you could always drop over to the Dandenongs next month when Ken and Lesley Gillanders will be giving a talk on Yunnan at our AGS VG/ FCHS Rock Garden Group meeting on the 24th at Ferny Creek ;D

Oron,
magnificent pics as usual! Looking forward to more,
cheers
fermi
Title: Re: Yunnan and Sichuan
Post by: Oron Peri on June 26, 2010, 06:48:08 AM
Thanks guys,

Here are some plants with particularly dark flowers,

Clematis pseudopogonandra
Mandragora caulescens
Thermopsis barbata
Arisaema elephas
Title: Re: Yunnan and Sichuan
Post by: Oron Peri on June 26, 2010, 07:45:36 AM
Most of the Gentiana in the area bloom later in Autumn,
These two miniatures bloom in June, How miniature?,  the whole plant of G. curviphylla is about 2.5cm in size but the color....




Gentiana curviphylla
Gentiana pubigera
Title: Re: Yunnan and Sichuan
Post by: Otto Fauser on June 26, 2010, 07:57:52 AM
Oron ,
 thank you for sharing beautyful pictures of beautyful plants from your recent trip to Yunnan . The purple-edged leaves of the Allium sp . are mouthwatering ,have you been able to identify it in the meantime ? Most of these plants won't be easy to cultivate in Israel - probably impossible .Some of them are already established in my garden here in the Dandenongs . Why  not hop onto a plane ( as Fermi suggested ) and enjoy the talk by the Gillanders ,who are staying with me  ?
Title: Re: Yunnan and Sichuan
Post by: Oron Peri on June 26, 2010, 08:20:06 AM
Oron ,
 thank you for sharing beautyful pictures of beautyful plants from your recent trip to Yunnan . The purple-edged leaves of the Allium sp . are mouthwatering ,have you been able to identify it in the meantime ? Most of these plants won't be easy to cultivate in Israel - probably impossible .Some of them are already established in my garden here in the Dandenongs . Why  not hop onto a plane ( as Fermi suggested ) and enjoy the talk by the Gillanders ,who are staying with me  ?

Otto,

I haven't identify the Allium yet as well as other plants, some are really difficult.

Thank you for your kind invitation, It would be wonderfull to visit you but after four flights and 38 hours to get home I need some rest ;)
Title: Re: Yunnan and Sichuan
Post by: arillady on June 26, 2010, 09:47:46 AM
When you are recovered Oron could you please tell us about the trip - arranged by whom, how many in the party?
Title: Re: Yunnan and Sichuan
Post by: TheOnionMan on June 26, 2010, 04:40:06 PM
Oron ,
 thank you for sharing beautyful pictures of beautyful plants from your recent trip to Yunnan . The purple-edged leaves of the Allium sp . are mouthwatering ,have you been able to identify it in the meantime ?

Otto,

I haven't identify the Allium yet as well as other plants, some are really difficult.


Oron, stunning photos & fantastic plants, particularly Arisaemas and Clematis, but the purple-edged Allium also caught my eye.  I will venture a guess that it is Allium nanodes, a dwarf 2-leaf species noted for having purple tinged or edged leaves... it is native to Yunnan and Sichuan provinces of China.
See:
http://www.efloras.org/object_page.aspx?object_id=87651&flora_id=800
http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=200027505
Title: Re: Yunnan and Sichuan
Post by: PeterT on June 26, 2010, 06:46:17 PM
Its nessecary to grow it Mark  :-\ and the nearest I have is A ovalifolium, or some seedling massonias all of which I'm very fond of BUT ..... ::)
Title: Re: Yunnan and Sichuan
Post by: TheOnionMan on June 27, 2010, 12:56:26 AM
Its nessecary to grow it Mark  :-\ and the nearest I have is A ovalifolium, or some seedling massonias all of which I'm very fond of BUT ..... ::)

Would love to grow this one, but where to get bulbs or seed of Allium nanodes?  I do have one plant of Allium ovalifolium, just coming into bloom now, but another (and much rarer) hosta-leaf Allium is my favorite, Allium listera.  I shall be posting this soon in the Allium 2010 topic, it is about a week away before opening, much earlier than normal.
Title: Re: Yunnan and Sichuan
Post by: johnw on June 27, 2010, 01:36:44 AM
Would love to grow this one, but where to get bulbs or seed of Allium nanodes?

I'll try pollinating my Allium nanodes ACE94-1785 - cw East of Summit Pass on Big Snow Mtn, China 4200-4600m scree and send if successful. Someone on the Forum identified the species when posted in 2008.  I try to search allium to no avail, only the Yunnan/Sichuan thread of late turns up.

johnw
Title: Re: Yunnan and Sichuan
Post by: TheOnionMan on June 27, 2010, 02:06:07 AM
Would love to grow this one, but where to get bulbs or seed of Allium nanodes?

I'll try pollinating my Allium nanodes ACE94-1785 - cw East of Summit Pass on Big Snow Mtn, China 4200-4600m scree and send if successful. Someone on the Forum identified the species when posted in 2008.  I try to search allium to no avail, only the Yunnan/Sichuan thread of late turns up.
johnw

John, I searched previously and found in the Alliums 2009 thread the mention (by yourself) of growing this allium, I wonder where your 2008 post is.  Do you have any photos of your plant?  It is exciting to have these ACE collections.
http://www.srgc.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=3028.msg126068#msg126068
Title: Re: Yunnan and Sichuan
Post by: johnw on June 27, 2010, 03:22:10 AM
Mark - I can't find the posting either but see a note that it was id'ed as nanodes. More when it flowers.

johnw 
Title: Re: Yunnan and Sichuan
Post by: TheOnionMan on June 27, 2010, 04:00:53 AM
Mark - I can't find the posting either but see a note that it was id'ed as nanodes. More when it flowers.

johnw 

OK, I can't wait! 8)
Title: Re: Yunnan and Sichuan
Post by: cohan on June 27, 2010, 06:00:10 AM
very nice, oron! i've seen a few things from this area, very interesting!
like everyone it seems, i love the allium..  tiny gentian is fascinating too, love those tiny plants!
Title: Re: Yunnan and Sichuan
Post by: Oron Peri on June 27, 2010, 04:57:19 PM

Oron ,
 thank you for sharing beautyful pictures of beautyful plants from your recent trip to Yunnan . The purple-edged leaves of the Allium sp . are mouthwatering ,have you been able to identify it in the meantime ?

Otto,

I haven't identify the Allium yet as well as other plants, some are really difficult.


Oron, stunning photos & fantastic plants, particularly Arisaemas and Clematis, but the purple-edged Allium also caught my eye.  I will venture a guess that it is Allium nanodes, a dwarf 2-leaf species noted for having purple tinged or edged leaves... it is native to Yunnan and Sichuan provinces of China.
See:
http://www.efloras.org/object_page.aspx?object_id=87651&flora_id=800
http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=200027505

Mark,

Fantastic, thank you for the identification. :)
Title: Re: Yunnan and Sichuan
Post by: Oron Peri on June 27, 2010, 05:09:02 PM
Fritillaria cirrhosa is a variable plant in size and color but always grow in a bush supporting it self with the tips of its leaf.
Lloydia delavayi [now Gagea]is an impressive plant, the clump in the photo measured 25 cm in height.
Title: Re: Yunnan and Sichuan
Post by: Oron Peri on June 27, 2010, 05:11:41 PM
And another beauty, quite common in Yunnan, Paeonia delavayi.
Title: Re: Yunnan and Sichuan
Post by: Oron Peri on June 27, 2010, 05:17:52 PM
When you are recovered Oron could you please tell us about the trip - arranged by whom, how many in the party?


Pat,
The trip was arranged by Greentours [UK], of which i was one of the leaders.
There are two trips annually to this region, in early summer and in autumn.
Title: Re: Yunnan and Sichuan
Post by: Oron Peri on June 27, 2010, 05:33:02 PM
Certainly, these provinces are heaven for Primula and Androsace, where we have seen more than 35 different species.
In the photos, Fields of P. sikkemensis [yellow], P, secundiflora [dark color] and Iris bulleyana.
Title: Re: Yunnan and Sichuan
Post by: Oron Peri on June 27, 2010, 06:05:39 PM
Two forms of Paris polyphylla,
unfortunately this species is becoming rare because of being collected massively.
Title: Re: Yunnan and Sichuan
Post by: Miriam on June 27, 2010, 07:29:29 PM
I see that you had a very successful trip!
The orchids are amazing  :o
How was the weather? I have heard that there were severe floods in southern China...
Title: Re: Yunnan and Sichuan
Post by: TheOnionMan on June 27, 2010, 07:30:30 PM
Fritillaria cirrhosa is a variable plant in size and color but always grow in a bush supporting it self with the tips of its leaf.
Lloydia delavayi [now Gagea] is an impressive plant, the clump in the photo measured 25 cm in height.

Oron, the Lloydia delavayi is a particularly fine looking plant :o :o  In FOC it is still listed as L. delavayi.  Where is it listed as a Gagea that trumps the FOC description?
Title: Re: Yunnan and Sichuan
Post by: Oron Peri on June 27, 2010, 08:14:20 PM
Fritillaria cirrhosa is a variable plant in size and color but always grow in a bush supporting it self with the tips of its leaf.
Lloydia delavayi [now Gagea] is an impressive plant, the clump in the photo measured 25 cm in height.

Oron, the Lloydia delavayi is a particularly fine looking plant :o :o  In FOC it is still listed as L. delavayi.  Where is it listed as a Gagea that trumps the FOC description?

Mark,
An ongoing and largest research everdone on the Gagea/Lloydia led by Prof. Levichev suggests after various DNA analysis that Gagea and Lylodia are one Genus.
The article was published by Oxford University press in May 2009.
By the way i have sent to this research some material from Israel, a few months ago i was told that  280 different species [from Europe and Asia] have been identified so far.

Some of the FOC books haven't been updated for the last 10 years or more.
Title: Re: Yunnan and Sichuan
Post by: Oron Peri on June 27, 2010, 08:19:06 PM
I see that you had a very successful trip!
The orchids are amazing  :o
How was the weather? I have heard that there were severe floods in southern China...

Hi Miriam,
Well we were lucky, it seems that the only two 'dry' provinces where Yunnan and most parts of Sichuan, still we had a few rainy or cloudy days, you can tell it by the dark photos...
Title: Re: Yunnan and Sichuan
Post by: Luc Gilgemyn on June 29, 2010, 04:29:31 PM
Wonderful stuff Oron !!
Thanks so much for showing these Impressions from an apparantly great trip !!  :D :D
Title: Re: Yunnan and Sichuan
Post by: BULBISSIME on November 09, 2010, 12:18:34 PM
Oron,

I had missed this post and I'm..... :o :o :o :o :o
Fantastic trip and so wonderfull pictures.
Many species I did'nt know and the Cypripedium..... crazy to see all of them in wild conditions.
Many thank's for that, and I suppose you still have lots of pictures in your computer  ;) ;D
Title: Re: Yunnan and Sichuan
Post by: Paul T on November 09, 2010, 10:02:27 PM
Fred,

Thanks for posting here and bringing this topic to my view as well.  Amazing photos.  Those Frits, those wonderful white and the dark pink Arisaema candidissimum (I want to grow both of them  ;D) and that lovely almost black Clematis.  Oh wow!!!!!!!

Thanks so much for showing us your travels, Oron. 8)
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