Author: Henry NoltiePage 5 of 6
54. Fraxinus xanthoxyloides (G. Don) A. De Candolle OLEACEAE Crab ash, Afghan ash This specimen was grown from seed collected in 1984 by RBGE horticulturist and alpine-specialist Ron McBeath…
55. Prunus cornuta (Royle) Steudel ROSACEAE Himalayan bird-cherry This specimen was grown from seed collected in Nepal in 1950 by Donald Lowndes. The plant has a widespread wild distribution…
56. Primula denticulata Smith PRIMULACEAE Drumstick primula, purple Nepal cowslip, Kirrie dumpling This spring-flowering plant is native to the Sino-Himalayan region (from Afghanistan to South-West China). In India it…
57. Bergenia stracheyi (J.D. Hooker & Thomson) Engler SAXIFRAGACEAE This species is a more distinguished relative of the rather coarse, but more commonly grown, Bergenia purpurascens. It is an…
58. Anemone trullifolia J.D. Hooker & Thomson RANUNCULACEAE A widespread Sino-Himalayan plant occurring in alpine turf at altitudes of 3500 to 4500 metres from Nepal to South-West China, including…
59. Pieris formosa (Wallich) D. Don ERICACEAE This attractive, but poisonous, evergreen member of the heather family is a widespread Sino-Himalayan species occurring from Nepal to Central China. It…
60. Persicaria campanulata (J.D. Hooker) Ronse Decraene POLYGONACEAE This pink-flowered herbaceous plant is native to the Sino-Himalaya from Uttarakhand eastwards to western Yunnan. It was first found by Joseph…
61. Rhododendron macabeanum Watt ex I.B. Balfour ERICACEAE One of the most handsome of the large rhododendrons, which can reach a height of 15 metres. Its flowers are a…
62. Lithocarpus elegans (Blume) Soepadmo FAGACEAE The genus Lithocarpus is closely related to the oaks (Quercus) and occurs in South and South-East Asia, with a single species in North…
63. Cardiocrinum giganteum (Wallich) Makino LILIACEAE Giant Himalayan lily This ‘prince of lilies’ is a Sino-Himalayan species, occurring from Kashmir to South-West China. It was first discovered by Nathaniel…
64. Cupressus himalaica Silba CUPRESSACEAE Weeping Himalayan cypress; Bhutia: chandang, tchenden This tree, with beautiful drooping foliage, occurs wild in Bhutan at altitudes of up to 3000 metres. Its…
65. Ephedra gerardiana Wallich ex Stapf EPHEDRACEAE Hindi: Somlata, सोमलता A dwarf Himalayan shrub, which occurs at high altitudes of up to 5,200 metres. Although it looks rather like…
66. Persicaria affinis (D. Don) Ronse Decraene POLYGONACEAE According to Joseph Hooker, who explored Sikkim in 1848/9, this plant was ‘one of the most beautiful features of the…
67. Geranium himalayense Klotzsch GERANIACEAE A popular garden plant, with several cultivars, which forms carpets by means of creeping rhizomes. Its large flowers are produced over a long period…
68. Iris clarkei J.D. Hooker An iris of the Sibericae group, in which the drooping, outer petals (which are known as the ‘falls’) are smooth and beardless. It…
69. Roscoea auriculata K. Schumann ZINGIBERACEAE Roscoea is one of the few hardy genera of the largely tropical ginger family. It was named by James Edward Smith after…
70. Betula utilis D. Don var. jacquemontii (Spach) Winkler BETULACEAE Himalayan silver birch, Jacquemont’s birch; Hindi: bhojpattra, भोजपत्र The specific name of this tree refers to its usefulness….
India does not spring immediately to mind as a major source of plants for British gardens. The reason for this is largely environmental – as the larger part…
In previous Botanics Stories I have written about the joys of Herbarium Angling, but fusty old botanists do occasionally emerge into the glare of daylight and take a…
One of the most historically important plants in RBGE is currently in flower in the Woodland Garden, immediately to the west of the old sweet chestnut tree opposite…