In this web section, Marimurtra serves as an informative channel between the knowledge and life experience of Christopher Witty and the reader, especially to introduce the wild flora of Nepal with the purpose of encouraging interest in the world of botany.
Christopher Witty is a member of the board of trustees of the Carl Faust Private Foundation, manager of the Marimurtra Botanical Garden, and has been photographing wild flowers in situ around the world for more than 50 years. But his work focuses mainly on Montseny (where he lives), the Pyrenees and the mountain ranges south of Málaga and Cádiz.
A lover of mountains and nature, Christopher has made six trips to Nepal between April and July and has photographed many flowers from 1,500 meters to 5,400 meters of altitude. Attracted first by the beauty of nature, he has learned throughout his career the vital role that plants play in relation to the well-being of the planet and the human being himself.
The main engine of the Marimurtra Botanical Garden is science. Although C. Witty is not a scientist, he understands that without the understanding and support of the public there can be no science. For this reason, he has developed a divulgative task over the years, with guided excursions, talks and photographic exhibitions of the flora he has photographed; and all with the aim of transmitting his passion for nature, to encourage interest in botany and to make records.
Nepal is a kind of sloping rectangle about 880 kilometers long and between 100 and 200 kilometers wide, with China on the northern border, and India on the south, east and west. In the north there are eight mountains of more than 8,000 meters, while just over 100 kilometers to the south we are below 1,000 meters. The variety of climate is almost infinite and therefore so is its flora.
This section will focus on introducing the wild flora photographed by Christopher Witty in different areas of Nepal.
Familiar flowers in distant lands
When looking for flowers in Nepal, one might assume they will all be very different from those seen at home and therefore hard to identify. But often, that’s not the case. Most belong to well-known families: a rose is still a rose, and a primula is a primula. The flowers Christopher presents today are clearly members of the Pea family, Fabaceae (or Leguminosae), which makes it much easier to identify the species.
Piptanthus nepalensis
Also known as the Nepal laburnum due to its large, bright yellow flowers, Christopher found this species growing beside the Langtang Khola river, on the way to the higher valleys. Two years later, he photographed another example in Ghorepani, near Poon Hill. It is a shrub that grows 1.5 to 3 metres tall, with trifoliate leaves made up of three elliptic dark green leaflets. Only two species of this genus exist, distributed between the Himalayas and south-central China.
Sophora moorcroftiana
These small blue-purple flowers were a well-hidden reward among the dense branches of a shrub growing along the Kali Gandaki valley, below Jomsom. In this very arid part of the country, the wood is collected for firewood. Nepal is home to just four species of the Sophora genus, but there are over sixty species worldwide, found across most continents—except Europe.
Christmas Flowers in the High Mountains
Christmas is a time of joy and celebration, and what better way to start it than with a burst of color? Among the first flowers to stand out are four different species of Androsace, from the Primulaceae family. If you asked Christopher about his favorite flowers, these would be at the top of his list. Discovering these tiny treasures high up in the mountains is a truly special experience.
We also find an Aster, a genus widely distributed across the Northern Hemisphere. However, this particular species grows only in mountain ranges, from Pakistan across the Himalayas to Central China.
Primulaceae – The Delicate Androsace
Androsace robusta – 3,500 m, July 2008, Central Nepal
Androsace, also known as “Rock Jasmines” in English, are generally much smaller than their Primula cousins. These mountain plants are found in the Himalayas, Alps, and Pyrenees, often forming compact cushions or mats with very short-stemmed or stalkless flowers. An exception is Androsace strigillosa, which can develop stems up to 25 cm from individual leaf rosettes.
There are over 170 species of Androsace worldwide, with 20 in Europe and 21 in Nepal.
Asteraceae – The Elegance of Aster diplostephioides
Aster diplostephioides – 4,000 m, July 2008, Central Nepal
The name Aster comes from ancient Greek, meaning “star,” in reference to the radiant shape of its flowers. This species is a particularly elegant example of the genus, growing in high-altitude alpine meadows. Its flowers measure between 5 and 7 cm across, and the plant can grow up to 40 cm tall.
With over 180 species, the Aster genus is represented in Europe by only 15 species, while there is just one in North America. The Asteraceae family is also traditionally known as Compositae, referring to its complex floral structure.
Both Iris and Gentiana genera are well represented in Europe and much of the Northern Hemisphere. Many Iris species have been cultivated and are highly popular in gardening. Gentiana species, on the other hand, come in a wide range of sizes and colors, with the iconic “Gentian Blue” being the most recognized. These plants grow worldwide, except in Africa and the Arabian Peninsula.
The Iris genus (Family: Iridaceae)
One remarkable species is Iris kemaonensis, observed at 3,500 meters altitude in the Annapurna region of Central Nepal (July 1998). This species features pale lilac flowers with short stems. In the morning, during the start of the walk, the flowers were closed, but by the time of return, under a bright sun, they had fully opened, creating a stunning sight.
The Iris genus includes over 300 species distributed across the Northern Hemisphere. Most species bear blue or lilac flowers, but some can be white or yellow. The species found in the Annapurna region are quite similar to those present in Europe. Their flowering period extends from spring to early summer.
The Gentiana genus (Family: Gentianaceae)
Gentians typically flower from late summer to autumn, but in Nepal, in the Langtang region (June 1994), a few species were seen blooming at 3,000 meters altitude. These had tiny flowers arranged in delicate circles of about 10 cm in diameter. Despite their small size, seeing them was a delight, as gentians are among Christopher’s favorite plant families.
Nepal hosts over 60 Gentiana species, making classification challenging. In Europe, around 30 species are found, whereas worldwide, there are more than 350 species, with China alone accounting for over 250.
Cremanthodiums are found only from the Himalayas to China and Myanmar and the Caraganas of Eastern Europe, extending across much of Asia to Mongolia and south to Myanmar. These are some of the many good reasons to put on your walking boots and visit this wonderful corner of the world.
- Asteraceae Cremanthodium arnicoides, 3500m (Central Nepal, July 1998) and Cremanthodium purpureifolium, 3500m (Central Nepal, July 1998)are two examples of this very attractive group of daisy-like flowers, found in high meadows in the summer The second is perhaps more interesting than beautiful, with its dark purple leaves. Although this genus is difficult to cultivate, some species have been introduced into some European countries and North American states.
- Leguminosae (Fabaceae) Caragana, 3000 m (central Nepal, April 1996)
The first image shows the slopes of the high mountains above Kagbeni and the great Kali Gandaki river in April, covered in clusters of flowers of this genus, which is a Himalayan version of European broom and gorse . There are 15 species in Nepal out of a total of about 340 in total.
Christmas – a time of joy and celebration so we start with some nice colours. First come four different species of Androsace of the Primula family. If you asked Christopher for his favourite flowers, these would be at the top of his list and finding these tiny treasures high in the mountains is very special. Next is an Aster, a Genus that can be found throughout most of the Northern Hemisphere, but this lovely species only grows in the mountains from Pakistan across the Himalayas into Central China.
Primulaceae
- 1. Androsace robusta, 3500 m (Nepal central, July 2008)
- 2. Androsace A, 4000 m (Nepal central, July 1998)
- 3. Androsace strigillosa, 3500 m (Nepal oriental, July 2001)
- 4. Androsace zambalensis, 5000 m (Nepal central, juliol de 2008)
Androsaces, or Rock Jasmines in English, are generally much smaller than their cousins, Primulas, and are found in mountainous regions like the Himalayas, the Alps and Pyreneees. They often form cushions or mats and the flowers have very short stalks or are stalkless. The A. strigillosa is an exception with stems of up to 25 cms gowing from individual leaf rosettes. There are over 170 species worldwide, 20 in Europe and 21 in Nepal.
Aster diplostephioides, 4000m (Nepal central, July 2008): Aster is the ancient Greek word for a star and this species is a very elegant example, growing in high mountain meadows. The flowers are 5 to 7cms broad and up to 40 cms tall. There are over 180 species of which only 15 are in Europe and one in North America. The family is also known under the name Compositae.
- Ericaceae Rhododendron arboreum, 3500m (Central Nepal, April 1996)
The national flower of Nepal and with good reason. Tall trees with many clusters of 10 to 20 large red flowers make a very impressive sight in early spring. These photos were taken above Ghorepani going up to Poon Hill which provides one of the greatest mountain views in the world of two 8000 meter peaks, Dhaulagiri and Annapurna. On this occasion clouds sat on the top of the great forest of Rhododendron in full flower, hiding the snowy peaks, but providing an equally fantastic sight of massed red flowers disappearing into the mist, seeming to go on for ever. There are over 40 species in Nepal of nearly 1100 species worldwide, distributed mainly in the northern hemisphere in America, Europe and Asia but also in S.E.Asia and even N.E Australia.
- Ericaceae Rhododendron lowndesii, 3800m (Central Nepal, July 1998)
Rhododendrons come in all sizes and here is one of the smallest which is only found in Nepal. The pretty yellow flowers are 1,5 to 2cms wide and bloom in the early summer months between 3300 and 4300m. On another visit to the Langtang valley in May 1994 the author photographed R. campanulatum, a medium sized tree with cluster of large pink and white flowers, and also several small shrubs of different species with yellow, white and red flowers. One species in particular was similar to the cultivated Rhododendrons known as Azaleas which are so popular in Europe. In Spain there are two wild species, the well known R. ferrugineum that covers the slopes of the Pyrenean mountains in red and the much less known R. ponticum found in the south of the country.
- Ericaceae Rhododendron lowndesii, 3800m (Central Nepal, July 1998)
- Fabaceae Mimosa rubicaulis, 1800 m (Central Nepal, July 1998)
Did you know that mimosas have yellow flowers? These mimosas actually belong to another genus called Acacia which is native to Madagascar and Australia. Acacia dealbata has long been brought to this part of the world as a popular garden plant; but that’s another story. There are more than 600 species of mimosa that grow in North and South America, the Indian subcontinent and southeastern Africa, but not in Europe. There are only three species in Nepal. This is a fairly large, very thorny shrub with spiny pinnate leaves and globular pink flowers.
- Balsminaceae Impatiens, 3000 m (Central Nepal, July 1998)
Christopher photographed about ten different species around Ghorepani and Poon Hill, where you can see two 8000m peaks, Dhaulagiri and Annapurna. July is monsoon season and everything is very wet, but the flowers are very friendly and hang at body height in the bushes, so you don’t have to kneel or lie on the ground, which is full of leeches sweets! Here are three different species to give you an idea of their variety and uniqueness. There are more than 1100 species in total with about 50 in Nepal. There is only one that is native to Europe, the Impatiens noli-tangere. There is also a very invasive species called Impatiens glandulifera, native to only a small area of Pakistan, Nepal and the western Himalayas, but which has managed to become a major pest in much of Europe and America from the central North. There has even been a colony in Montseny.
Here are two flowers photographed at 5000m at the start of the final ascent of Thorung La Pass at 5416m, the pinnacle of the Annapurna Circuit. He also saw a Stellaria, a Saxifraga and some Androsaces. Christopher had hoped to see some other species, but the weather did not help him. It had snowed at the top of the pass and rained most of the way down the other side. The plant with the longest growing flower is the Arenaria bryophylla, at 6180 m.
- Asteraceae Saussurea tridactyla, 5000 m, (July 2008 – Central Nepal)
This was one of three Saussures in the same area, all wrapped in what looks like cotton wool, hiding both flowers and leaves to protect themselves from the cold and also from the ultraviolet rays at this height. Underneath are small purple flowers that can sometimes be seen popping up. This one is only about 7-8cm tall, but taller plants, say 15cm, may have some of their lower leaves exposed. They grow between 4500 and 5500 m and bloom in the summer months; some even until September and October. It is also known as the Snow Lotus and is used in traditional medicine.
- Crassulaceae Rhodiola fastigiata, 5100 m, (July 2008 – Central Nepal)
Rhodiola was a new genus for Christopher, which was no surprise as over 90% of its species grow in the mountains of Asia. This species was in full bloom and, growing by the side of the road, it opened to an austere and wild neck. The day before I had seen a second species, R. crenulate, but due to the low light and the excitement of being at 5000m for the first time, the photos were not great! Several species are used in herbal medicine, including Rhodiola rosea, which has a much wider distribution, including Europe from the Mediterranean to the Arctic.
- A blue poppy? Poppies are red, right? For most of us in Europe, perhaps. Fields of large red flowers with delicate, crinkled petals are certainly what most people are most familiar with, but there are also mauve, white and yellow native poppies in Europe. To find blue poppies you will have to go with Christopher to Nepal. Below are two small collections, one of European poppies and one of some from the high Himalayas. Papaveraceae is the poppy family and takes its name from the genus Papaver. The family has a total of 46 genera, many of which also produce ‘poppies’ as you will see below. Then there are other genera with flowers that are not poppy at all like Fumaria and Solidaris.
>> Europe
- Papaver rhoeas is the most common poppy in this area with bright red flowers and hairy stems that stick out at right angles. The Fr. dubium’s is similar, slightly lighter red and the hairs are appressed to the stem. Their natural habitats are also very similar, Europe, North Africa and east even in the case of P. rhoeas, to the western Himalayas. Both have been widely introduced throughout the world. The Papaver genus has a total of nearly 120 species, with around 25 native to Europe.
Papaver somniferum is the opium poppy. A larger plant, up to 1.5 m tall, with large white or pale purple flowers, it is native to Western Europe and North Africa and is widely distributed and cultivated throughout the world. Yes, this is where opium and heroin come from, but here, for us, it is an amazing and beautiful flower.
Papaver cambricum, known as the Poppy of Wales. Until recently this belonged to the genus Meconopsis and was the only species native to Europe, but it has now been established as Papaver. It has beautiful yellow flowers and is native to Western Europe and Great Britain, Ireland and introduced to Germany and Scandinavia.
Glaucium flavum is a pale yellow poppy that lives near the sea and is native to Europe, North Africa and the ‘Middle East to Iran.
Glaucium corniculatum: This dark red, sometimes orange poppy photographed in Andalusia prefers roadsides and farmland Eschscholzia californicum
California Poppy: This American flower has become a very popular garden plant with its beautiful yellow or orange flowers, but not is originally from Europe. Although it is popularly known as a poppy, its petals are smooth and less delicate, and therefore may not be included here.
There are other poppies, of course, such as Argemone mexicana and A. grandiflora, Papaver orientale and Romnea coulteri, also native to America and widely introduced, some even in Nepal, and even present in Marimurtra They also have real poppy flowers, mostly white, wrinkled and very delicate.
>> Nepal
- Mecanopsis horridula: Photographed at heights between 4100m and 5100m July 2008 central Nepal. Christopher had dreamed of seeing and photographing this particular flower before he became interested in flowers in general. For him it was the icon of the Himalayas and it was not until his sixth visit that his dream came true. Light to dark blue or with bristly stems and narrow leaves, it is not a large plant, up to 25 cm high, flowers 30 to 80 cm wide. It is worth looking at the many pictures on the Internet to appreciate its beauty.
Mecanopsis bella: Found just a couple of meters before the M. horridula above! Pale blue or mauve in color, it is a more delicate plant that hides in the bushes near the path. It is quite rare and this and a few closer ones were the only ones found.
Meconopsis napaulensis: Until recently this large and splendid plant had flowers that varied from white, to red, purple and sometimes even blue However, in 2006 an eminent botanist decided to create four new species and P. napaulensis is represented solely by its white flowers. These were photographed in July 1998 at Ghorapani at 3000m in the Annapurna region.
Meconopsis staintonii: This red poppy has previously been presented as another M napaulensis. Also found at about 3000m on the lower slopes of Mt Dhaulagiri in July 1998. A very tall plant with the flowers drooping in the surrounding dense fog.
Dicranostigma lactucoides:smaller plant up to 30cm with pale yellow flowers, this genus is similar to Glaucium; in Europe and prefers stony slopes and riverside terrain. Also photographed in 1998 at 2800 m in July 1998. There are about 95 species of Meconopsis in total, but only 15 in Nepal, some of which grow only in Nepal, some also in Tibet and/or the eastern Himalayas . Only theM. horridulahas a wider range extending to Myanmar in the south and Qinghai Province in China next to Tibet. The total range of Meconopsis is from Pakistan to northeastern China and Myanmar. Papaver cambrica used to be a Meconopsis, but its new genus means that there is no Meconopsis in Europe.
Two flowers equally beautiful, the Orchid, of a reasonable size, quite common and easy to see, the other very small, not so common and only seen if you look very carefully all the time with your eyes wide open.
- Orchidaceae Coelogyne corymbose, 2500m, (May 1992 – Central Nepal): These beautiful epiphytes bloom between April and June at 2200m to 3300. They like trees whose branches have been cut for firewood, where there are few leaves and more light. On treks in the Annapurna region, you will see them near the trail on the second or third day. There are nearly 600 species of this particular orchid growing right across from India to China, Indonesia and even North East Australia.
- Mazaceae Mazus surcolosus, 2000 m, (May 2001 – Eastern Himalaya): This colourful little flower is just 1cm long and is one of only two species to be found in Nepal, although there are 40 species altogether from Afghanistan across Pakistan and India to China, up to Mongolia and also Eastern Australia. Some species have been introduced to the UK and parts of North and South America. Another reason for including it here is to show the sort of changes going on in the botanical world, where there is an international effort to unify and modernise classification. Not so long ago the Mazus belonged to the family Scrophulariacea, it then moved to the Plantaginaceae and more recently to a little family of its own the Mazaceae, with only 4 genera, two with only one species each and the other with two species, one of which has also been photographed by the author. There are perhaps 30,000 wild orchids altogether so all of this makes this tiny flower a little bit more special!
These two plants are examples of the popularity of Himalayan flowers in European gardens. New varieties are then created with different colours.
- Clematis montana, 3000 m, (May 1992 Central Nepal): This strong climbing plant or vine has large, pure white and beautiful flowers up to 6 cm across, the plant itself is able to grow up to 12 metres high. They are found in the mountains from Afghanistan, right across the Himalaya to China. Different parts of the plant have been used in famous Chinese herbal medicines for thousands of years. Their size makes them stand out in European gardens in the different colours that have been invented for them, red, blue, mauve for example. These are very pretty but to see a Clematis montana in the wild is something else; it is so elegant and the white of its flowers is very special, very attractive.
- Begonia picta, 2000 m, (July 1998 Central Nepal): The genus Begonia has over 2000 species and is found in Asia, Africa and Central and South America, mainly in the southern hemisphere, but not in Europe, at altitudes between 600 and 2800m, flowering between July and September. The Begonia picta is the most common species in Nepal and prefers the shade. It has both male and female flowers, sometimes on the same plant. Those in the photo appear to be male flowers, measuring 2 to 3cms across. The flowers are very pretty but the main attraction of this species are the leaves with their varying shapes and patterns making them particularly popular as a garden plant. Many other Begonias are also cultivated in Europe and new varieties are created from them.
- Rosa sericea (3500m, may 2001 and 1998 – Central Nepal central): Cultivated multi-petal roses are probably the best known and most loved flowers. Wild species, on the other hand, are less well known. Normally, they have 5 petals, but this particular species has four white or cream colored petals, with many small, serrated leaflets. They have red fruits (hips) on fairly dense bushes of 1 to 2 meters.
This information is taken from Vol.3 of the Flora of Nepal, published by the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, which includes several small variations, one of which is R. sericea var. omeiensis. But there is another reputable source that records the species as, R. omeiensis, along with a host of variations. This flower shown here is an excellent example of how complicated nomenclature can be in botany
- Podophyllum hexandrum (4000m, 1994 – Langtang Nepal): This flower was found in a rock crevice in the upper Langtang Valley, but the author did not discover its family and species until he visited in the herbarium of the Natural History Museum in London. The flower reappears each year by pushing up two large leaves at the top of the stem, which can reach 50 cm. At first, the leaves are down – as you can see in the photo – and, thanks to the sun, a single white or pink flower opens and closes. The leaves open, the petals fall, and a fruit develops into a red plum, which hangs as it grows, protected by the large leaves like a parasol. This is an important medicinal plant in the treatment of cancer. Almost all other species grow further east towards China, with the exception of one species native to the eastern half of North America. Like other high altitude plants, it survives extremes of heat and cold and strong winds.
- Morina longifolia, 3500m (1998 – Nepal central): Found it in a lush green meadow on the lower slopes of Mount Dhaulagiri, 8,167m, you can see the spiky leaves and elongated pink flowers that emerge from the thistle-like head of the plant. An example of how not all thorny plants are thistles. This species used to have its own family, the Morinaceae, but now belongs to the Caprifoliaceae family. The whole plant is used in Tibetan medicine for stomach disorders such as indigestion, and is also popular as a garden plant.
Photographing flowers at this height during the monsoon months makes it very interesting because of the abundance of leeches that seem to be waiting especially for you!
- Epipactis royleana, 3500m (2008 – Manang, Central Nepal): There are more than a dozen species of Epipactis in Catalonia, but only four in Nepal, including E. helleborine, photographed at home and in Nepal. The species of the genus Epipactis usually like the shade and must be observed closely to be able to appreciate their details. This large colony was found while Christopher was looking for a quiet corner to have a picnic, well away from the paths, in full sun, showing off its red flowers. A small group was later found much higher in the upper part of its range at 4000 m. This is a much drier area and not much affected by the monsoon, so no leeches.
Plant names indicate geographical locations, Sikkim and Nepal. Although both flowers can be found across the Himalayas and beyond. Sikkim is an Asian kingdom, located between Nepal and Bhutan with China to the north and India to the south. Until 1973, it was an independent country, but then it became part of India. When Christopher was there in 1996, he needed an additional visa to visit. Small, quiet and beautiful, sharing with Nepal the third highest mountain in the world, Kanchenjunga on its western border.
- Primula sikkimensis: approaching 4000 m they encountered a large group of these primroses which they recognized immediately. Long before Christopher thought he could go to this part of the world, he bought the book “Flowers of the Himalayas” by O. Polunin and A. Stainton. He especially remembered this flower, by its name and its shape, which is different from the primroses of Europe. They are one of the tallest primroses, reaching up to 90cm tall, when they are usually 25-30cm, and they grow right in the Himalayas, from northern India to China.
- Lilium nepalense: These are large flowers of up to 15 cm and stand out among the mass of vegetation found in the monsoon season, growing between 2300 m and 3500 m in an area similar to Primula sikkimensis. Christopher I have also been able to observe and photograph two other lilies with a similar name, the Lilium columbianum in Canada in the province of British Columbia and the Lilium pyrenaicum in the Pyrenees itself.
Plants are typically known by the name of the genus with a capital letter, followed by the species with a lowercase letter. Species are often descriptive, such as “angustifolium” for narrow leaves, or may refer to a location or a person’s name. Here, two significant figures in the botanical world are mentioned, Nathaniel Wallich, 1786-1854, and John Dalton Hooker, 1817-1911.
- Euphorbia wallichii : species of Euphorbia can be found in nearly every corner of the world, 2040 in total. There are plenty here on the Mediterranean, but perhaps the best known is one with bright red leaves which is presently being sold as a Christmas decoration, Euphorbia pulcherrima or Poinsettia. It is however a native of Mexico and Central America. The distinguishing feature of this E. wallichii are the leaves with clear white veins and what seem to be flowers of bright golden yellow, making a wonderful sight on a Himalayan hill on a cloudy day. This particular species is also a popular garden plant in England and elsewhere.
- Pleione hookeriana: This beautiful flower is the epiphytic orchid that grows highest in Nepal, reaching up to 3,500 meters, and uses thick moss that grows on rocks and trees as its bed. The first ones Witty saw were by the side of the path, but as he explored the forest, he came across some tall trees with trunks and branches covered with them, seeming to disappear into the low clouds.
There are nearly 300 species of orchids in Nepal from 80 different genera. While in Europe only terrestrial orchids grow, in Nepal there are terrestrial and epiphytes, plants that grow on other plants or objects without parasitizing them nutritionally.
- Dendrobium amoenum: photographed in late May by the side of the trail at just over 1,000 meters on the first day of the walk. They are up to about 2,900 meters of altitude. With the sale even in supermarkets of exotic orchids, the public is becoming more familiar with these plants. Cultivated flowers of the genus Dendrobium are very popular.
- Habenaria pectinata: photographed in July, monsoon season, at 3,000 meters among a lot of vegetation below Dhaulagiri mountain at 8,167 m. There are almost 900 species of this terrestrial orchid genus in the world but none of them in Europe. Even so, there are other genera of terrestrial orchids that can be observed in Europe and that, in addition, have some species present in different regions in Nepal.