{"id":11088,"date":"2026-02-16T12:50:09","date_gmt":"2026-02-16T11:50:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/marimurtra.cat\/christophers-corner\/"},"modified":"2026-07-14T14:03:02","modified_gmt":"2026-07-14T12:03:02","slug":"christophers-corner","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/marimurtra.cat\/en\/christophers-corner\/","title":{"rendered":"Christopher\u2019s corner"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Christopher\u2019s corner<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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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.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Christopher Witty is a member of the board of trustees of the Carl Faust Private Foundation<\/a><\/strong>, 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 M\u00e1laga and C\u00e1diz. <\/p>

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. <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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The main engine of the Marimurtra Botanical Garden<\/strong> 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. <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Nepal <\/strong>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. <\/p>

This section will focus on introducing the wild flora photographed by Christopher Witty in different areas of Nepal.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Flowers among the rocks of the Thorung La Pass<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Two flowers from the same family sheltering among the rocks at the foot of the Thorung La Pass, a very rocky place. In each case the species given is an educated guess. <\/p>

Cruciferae is the older name of this family and is still valid. Today the more accepted name is Brassicaceae.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Cruciferae - Cardamine loxostemonoides <\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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4.545 m July 2008 Central Nepal<\/span><\/strong><\/p>

Cardamines have some of the prettiest flowers of this large family, especially these pink ones.<\/p>

These flowers reminded him of another European species from the same genus, Cardamine raphanifolia, which is also characterised by its pink tones. <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Cruciferae - Thlaspi griffithianum<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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4.545 m July 2008 Central Nepal<\/span><\/strong><\/p>

The second plant was identified by Christopher as Thlaspi griffithianum. As he points out, this name is now considered a synonym of Noccaea griffithiana. <\/p>

Today there are 133 species of Noccaea distributed throughout most of the planet, but only 9 Thlaspi species.<\/p>

Like the Cardamine, this small flower grew beside the path, sheltered among stones and surrounded by a landscape dominated by grey rock. <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Sabia and Potentilla, flowers of the Himalayas<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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In this new installment, Christopher presents two plants from Eastern Asia, both limited to this region of the world, as is the entire Sabiaceae<\/i> family.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Sabiaceae \u2013 Sabia campanulata<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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3,000 m \u00b7 May 2001 \u00b7 Central Nepal<\/b><\/p>

This is a climbing plant with beautiful leaves and small bell-like flowers. This combination allowed Christopher to take one of his favorite photos. Like its entire family, the Sabiaceae<\/i>, its distribution is limited to Southeast Asia. <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Rosaceae \u2013 Potentilla atrosanguinea\n<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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4,000 m \u00b7 June 1992 \u00b7 Annapurna base camp, Central Nepal<\/b><\/p>\n

This beautiful Potentilla<\/i> grows in the Himalayas and extends to south-central China and Myanmar. Most of the flowers in this genus are yellow or white, but as the name of this species suggests, they can also be blood red or orange, as in this case. <\/p>\n

The photograph was taken in a very special place during Christopher’s first visit to Nepal, with the south face of Annapurna in the background, at an altitude of over 4,000 meters. It should be noted that the genus  Potentilla<\/i> can grow up to 8,000 meters.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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A terrestrial orchid and an enigmatic flower<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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A terrestrial orchid and a strange flower sometimes mistaken for one. These two plants are the reason for getting on a plane to faraway places and walking long distances, with a watchful eye on the surrounding vegetation. <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Calanthe tricarinata (Orchidaceae)<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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2.700 m \u00b7 May 1994 \u00b7 Central Nepal, Langtang<\/strong><\/p>

This species was found at the edge of a forest on the last day of a trek to the beautiful Langtang valley. The genus Calanthe comprises approximately 277 species, 13 of which are found in Nepal. Its distribution is wide, including Central America, South Asia, southern Africa and eastern Australia, but not Europe.<\/p>

The lip of the flower is usually light brown, although in some specimens it can be darker or even purple. This plant was only about 20 cm tall, but another, nearly 60 cm high, was seen in a much more humid area. Unfortunately, the lack of light made it impossible to photograph. <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Roscoea sp. (Zingiberaceae) <\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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3.000 m \u00b7 June 2001 \u00b7 Central Nepal<\/strong><\/p>

The genus Roscoea consists of only 25 species, distributed from Pakistan eastwards across the Himalaya and Tibet to southern China. About 10 are known from Nepal, but identifying the exact species is difficult, and it is possible that the two specimens observed are in fact the same. <\/p>

It is a genus well worth looking into, as it shows unusual floral characteristics: the petals are not petals in the usual sense, which explains why it is often mistaken for an orchid, an initial confusion that Christopher himself admits to having made. Roscoea<\/em>, however, belongs to the ginger family, a clearly tropical group, well known for aromatic plants such as turmeric, cardamom and, of course, ginger. <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Pedicularis and Corydalis, hidden diversity<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Christopher reflects on two genera little known in our land but with great richness of species worldwide, especially in Eastern Asia. The genus Pedicularis <\/em>includes around 680 species, more than 250 of which are endemic to China. In the Iberian Peninsula, however, only about a dozen and some subspecies are known. Similarly, the genus Corydalis has about 540 species worldwide, but in our peninsula only three. <\/p>

Even so, on nearby outings, Christopher has photographed Pedicularis comosa<\/em> and Corydalis solida<\/em> in Montseny, as well as P. rosea<\/em> in the Pyrenees. During his few accumulated weeks in Nepal, he has managed to capture 16 of the 86 species of Pedicularis <\/em>and 8 of the 50 species of Corydalis <\/em>that grow there. <\/p>

On a trip at 3,000 metres altitude, he observed Pedicularis longifolia<\/em> var. tubiformis (family Orobanchaceae<\/strong>), a hemiparasitic plant that lives in damp areas near the Tibetan border, often together with Primula tibetica<\/em>. It is recognised by its long corolla tube, with the upper lip curving downwards over the broader lower lip, and it can grow up to 20 cm, with multilobed leaves along the stem. <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Much higher, at 4,400 metres in the Phedi area, he found Corydalis latiflora<\/em> (family Papaveraceae<\/strong>). Although today it belongs to the same family as poppies, its appearance is very different. This genus, together with Fumaria<\/em>, once had its own family, Fumariaceae. The flowers, small and delicate, only about 18 mm long, add a touch of colour to the rocky landscape, often half hidden from the wind and cold. <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Mountain species of Eastern Asia: Thymus linearis and Ajuga lupulina\n<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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While the genera Thymus <\/em>and Ajuga <\/em>\u2014familiar in Europe as thyme and bugle\u2014 are well known, this time Christopher shares his encounter with two species from the Lamiaceae <\/em>family found in the mountains of Eastern Asia, specifically in Nepal during a botanical trek in the summer of 1998.<\/p>

On the first day of his journey, he was struck by patches of pink across the hillside, reminiscent of Mediterranean thyme. But this was the Himalayas, with Tibet not far away. A local flora guide later confirmed the plant to be Thymus linearis<\/em><\/strong>, the only Thymus <\/em>species found in Nepal, though the genus includes nearly 300 species worldwide. This particular species can grow up to 4,000 metres in elevation. <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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He also observed Ajuga lupulina<\/em><\/strong>, a species that thrives at altitudes up to 4,500 metres. Its leaves function almost like a coat, helping the plant survive in harsh high-altitude environments. The white flowers have delicate mauve markings and an almost nonexistent upper lip. After flowering, the upper bracts turn red. Nepal is home to 12 species of Ajuga<\/em>, and there are 64 recorded worldwide. <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Botanical diversity of the Himalayas: Anaphalis and Bistorta<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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In this new edition, Christopher shares two discoveries made during his exploration in Nepal. The first corresponds to a new member of the Asteraceae family: the genus Anaphalis<\/em>, native to Asia, although one single species grows in North America. Some species have been introduced to Europe, but not to the Iberian Peninsula. The second plant belongs to the Polygonaceae family and is similar to the genus Persicaria<\/em>. <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Asteraceae \u2013 Anaphalis sp.<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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3500 m, July 2008 \u2013 Central Nepal<\/em><\/p>

There are 23 known species of the genus Anaphalis <\/em>in Nepal, often difficult to classify. The specimen observed was initially identified as Anaphalis triplinervis<\/em> var. intermedia<\/em>, but given the taxonomic complexity, Christopher considers it more prudent to leave it as sp. A. These plants only have disc florets; what seem to be petals are, in fact, dry and papery bracts. They grow at considerable altitudes, around 3000 metres, though one species reaches 5000 m. It is a small and pretty flower, one we do not find at home. <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Polygonaceae \u2013 Bistorta sp.<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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4900 m, July 2008 \u2013 Thorung La, Central Nepal<\/em><\/p>

These photographs were taken at 4900 metres, on a sloping meadow beside the giant scree of the Thorung La pass. In the midst of a rocky and inhospitable landscape, this area offered a vivid patch of colour beneath the snow, which was not far above. It might be Bistorta macrophylla<\/em>, one of the 16 species found in Nepal, among the 44 known worldwide. This species also appears in the magnificent book by the photographer Toshio Yoshida, Portraits of Himalayan Flowers<\/em>. <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Gesneriaceae: botanical gems of shady, rocky habitats<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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In this edition, Christopher invites us to explore a lesser-known but fascinating botanical family: the Gesneriaceae<\/strong>, or gesneriads. There are only four or five species of this family in all of Europe, and just one \u2014 Ramonda myconi<\/em> \u2014 is native to this region. Traditionally used in Catalonia to treat colds and coughs, this plant has thick, fleshy leaves, a common trait among its relatives. Most Gesneriaceae are found in tropical and subtropical climates, though a few thrive in temperate regions like these. <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Corallodiscus lanuginosus: a discreet beauty on Nepalese trails
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While hiking along a steep trail in Central Nepal, at an altitude of 2,500 metres, Christopher encountered this tiny marvel. The flowers of Corallodiscus lanuginosus<\/em> are about one centimetre long. It is the only species of its genus found in Nepal, though there are six species altogether, ranging from the Himalayas to China and down the Malay Peninsula. <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Didymocarpus: small flowers, big challenges<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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In June 2001, during a visit to Eastern Nepal, Christopher observed three species of the diverse Didymocarpus <\/em>genus, which includes over 100 known species, twelve of which grow in Nepal.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Didymocarpus primulifolius<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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  • Didymocarpus primulifolius<\/em> can be deceptive: the small pink cups may appear to be the flowers, but they are actually the calyx. On closer inspection, you can spot the darker, trumpet-like true flowers emerging from them. <\/p><\/li>

  • Didymocarpus pedicellatus<\/em> is easier to recognise thanks to its deep purple flowers, around 2.5 cm long.<\/p><\/li>

  • A third specimen, temporarily named Didymocarpus <\/em>sp. B, was found growing in the fork of a tree at eye level. Unfortunately, its flowers had already faded, leaving only its striking leaves to admire. Christopher was a bit frustrated at not being able to assign it a proper name, but the photographs make up for it. <\/p><\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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    Familiar flowers in distant lands<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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    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\u2019s not the case. Most belong to well-known families: a rose is still a rose, and a primula <\/em>is a primula<\/em>. The flowers Christopher presents today are clearly members of the Pea family, Fabaceae <\/em>(or Leguminosae<\/em>), which makes it much easier to identify the species. <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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    Piptanthus nepalensis<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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    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. <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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    Sophora moorcroftiana<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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    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 <\/em>genus, but there are over sixty species worldwide, found across most continents\u2014except Europe. <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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    Christmas Flowers in the High Mountains<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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    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. <\/p>

    We also find an Aster<\/em>, 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. <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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    Primulaceae \u2013 Les discretes Androsace<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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    Androsace robusta \u2013 3,500 m, July 2008, Central Nepal<\/p>

    Androsace<\/em>, also known as \u201cRock Jasmines\u201d in English, are generally much smaller than their Primula <\/em>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<\/em>, which can develop stems up to 25 cm from individual leaf rosettes. <\/p>

    There are over 170 species of Androsace worldwide, with 20 in Europe and 21 in Nepal.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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    Androsace robusta<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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    Asteraceae \u2013 L\u2019eleg\u00e0ncia de l\u2019Aster diplostephioides<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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    Aster diplostephioides \u2013 4,000 m, July 2008, Central Nepal<\/p>

    The name Aster <\/em>comes from ancient Greek, meaning \u201cstar,\u201d 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. <\/p>

    With over 180 species, the Aster <\/em>genus is represented in Europe by only 15 species, while there is just one in North America. The Asteraceae <\/em>family is also traditionally known as Compositae<\/em>, referring to its complex floral structure. <\/p>

    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 \u201cGentian Blue\u201d being the most recognized. These plants grow worldwide, except in Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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    Aster diplostephioides<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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    The Iris genus (Family: Iridaceae)<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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    One remarkable species is Iris kemaonensis<\/em>, 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. <\/p>

    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. <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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    The Gentiana genus (Family: Gentianaceae)<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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    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\u2019s favorite plant families. <\/p>

    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. <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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    Cremanthodiums <\/strong><\/em>are found only from the Himalayas to China and Myanmar and the Caraganas <\/strong>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. <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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    Asteraceae Cremanthodium arnicoides, 3500m (Central Nepal, July 1998) and Cremanthodium purpureifolium, 3500m (Central Nepal, July 1998)<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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    They 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. <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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