I am supportive of the sound comments of Dr Rawat.
One cannot rely upon records from herbaria alone. Active field botanists who
can reliably identify the plants they encounter duringsurveys are essential.
The relative presence or not of specimens of particular species collected since
Indian Independence cf. beforemay just be a reflection of how often and whom,
botanises in the higher mountains.....
Botanists exhibit varying levels of field skills and ability to cope with the
rigours of exploring for plants in the mountains and this will impact on what
is found. Not everyone is keen to leave the office or herbarium, especially if
those at a higher level do not encourage field botany or recognise its
importance.
As a young botanist and team-leader of a survey of riverside vegetation in
Wales 34 years ago (where we surveyed 500km stretches of river-bank)
comparisons for my team of surveyors were made on certain stretches i.e. we all
surveyed the same stretch. None of us spotted every species but, thankfully, I
found the most. Different field workers are more observant than others. The
project compared different stretches of river, assessing the richness on the
basis of total number of plant species and their rarity. Comparisons I
instigated showed that much depended on whom did the surveying, which those who
set up these surveys had not appreciated. The results were published in a
paper in the Journal of Biological Conservation.
It is challenging to botanise methodically and search carefully, especially in
difficult terrain, not least at higher altitudes. Not everyone can scramble
about amongst rocks and boulders or steep slopes/cliffs.
I recollect the first time I reached the Baralacha La (pass) between Lahoul and
Rupshu at some 4800m. It was a bright sunny day in 1991. I was using slide
film in those days and KNEW the in-camera light metering would be confused by
the conditions such that if I just took pictures the usual way the exposure
would be wrong. I KNEW I needed to do what was called "bracketing" the
exposure but my head was light from the high elevation and shortage of oxygen
and could not make myself do it.....
Similarly, I visited Ladakh just a few years ago and reached (again by vehicle)
Chang La (over 5000m) not too far from Leh. I was OK (albeit slow) when
exploring over the pass but during a later stop, struggled even to move!
If someone like myself who is robust, spends time acclimatizing and enjoys
being in the mountains, finds it hard-going (at times) then I am sure others do
as well. Not everyone is comfortable in mountains or copes with the altitude
or can safely negotiate such terrain (in which case they become a liability).
It MUST be stressed that a true picture of a region's flora cannot be found
solely relying upon what grows within a few metres or at most a few hundred
metres, of a road or track (certain cosmopolitan weeds may occur
disproportionately in such places whilst some species will be missed
altogether). It is ESSENTIAL to both trek into the mountains and scramble
amongst the rocks and boulders on steep slopes.
The Czech plant ecologists who have studied the ecology of such plants as
Thylacospermum caespitsoum at the upper limits of flowering plants in Ladakh
are to be commended. They discovered new species and a new genus of flowering
plant. I have not been to such places in Ladakh @ 5500-6000m! I do not know of
too many Indian botanists who have. It is IMPOSSIBLE to accurately assess the
rarity or abundance of species which grow amongst rocks and boulders @ 4-5000m
e,g. unless one surveys intensely in such habitats. This has not been
happening, let alone 5000m+ (although species are few and far between at such
extremes).
I have been lecturing about my travels in the Himalaya to clubs & societies in
the UK for more than 30 years. Audiences are often inspired by the images I
show. When speaking on Ladakh e.g., I stress that typical reaction of
Westerners to such altitudes and conditions are lethargy, depression and a wish
to go home at the earliest opportunity - not helped by a raking cough caused by
the dry air! And many a mountain 'road' is not for the faint-hearted.
I myself have suffered from serious gastro-intestinal difficulties (akin to
food poisoning) on numerous occasions and had to return back to the UK
prematurely on my first expedition. I wish I had known on my early expeditions
a quick solution (all such episodes were cleared up within 24 hours in more
recent years - the 'cure' being told me by a UK doctor working in India). Must
have been mad to continue..... I am reminded of the song "Mad Dogs and
Englishmen go out in the Noon Day sun..."
Best Wishes,
Chris Chadwell
81 Parlaunt Road
SLOUGH
SL3 8BE
UK
www.shpa.org.uk
From: D.S Rawat <[email protected]>
To: J.M. Garg <[email protected]>
Cc: C CHADWELL <[email protected]>; efloraofindia
<[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, 8 November 2016, 4:40
Subject: Re: [efloraofindia:256025] Re: Plumbaginaceae, Primulaceae &
Myrsinaceae Fortnight 1-14June2014: Primula minutissima from Uttarakhand_DSR_1
The major reason for including species in Red Data Book of Indian Plants (3
vols published by Botanical Survey of India in 1987,88,90 and edited by Nayar &
Sastry) and later into other such documents like 1997 IUCN Redlist of
Threatened Plants (Rao et al. 2003) was herbarium studies in Indian herbaria.
Species not collected since long or less collected were also included in list
of red taxa in addition to species facing exploitation for various purposes.
As said by Chadwell Ji, I also believe that the status of these species need to
be reviewed in light of current IUCN criteria and extensive field work in the
probable localities all along their distribution range.
Do we have resources, dedicated field workers ready to explore extremely
difficult terrains, and earnest desire to do so are the issues related to this
aspect of declaring plants Endangered/ Rare / Extinct.
DSRawat Pantnagar
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dr D.S. RawatDepartment of Biological Sciences, G.B. Pant University of
Agriculture & Technology Pantnagar-263 145 Uttarakhand, INDIAeflorapantnagar
displaying wild flora of Pantnagar
On Tue, Nov 8, 2016 at 9:27 AM, J.M. Garg <[email protected]> wrote:
Thanks, Chadwell ji
On 8 Nov 2016 8:37 am, "chrischadwell261@btinternet. com"
<chrischadwell261@btinternet. com> wrote:
I think this must be P.minutissima. Cannot think which other species it can
be. It is a nonsense (as with Saxifraga jacquemontiana) to suggest this plant
is Endangered. It is no such thing. I repeat my comment that I am at a lost
to know how species are included in the Red List of Threatened Vascular Plants
in India (the only reason it is in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants is
because they accepted what was submitted - they are in no position to check,
just as the species accepted onto Appendices for CITES are accepted on no
actual evidence as those from the Indian Himalaya are not 'Rare & Endangered'.
How can botanists who spend so little time in the field possibly know what is
rare let alone endangered. You do not discover this from an office!.
As Primula minutissima grows well in suitable habitat in Ladakh (I have seen it
in several places including irrigation channels), also in the Kashmir Valley,
Kulu Valley and know of it from Baspa Valley, Kinnuar, where it is flourishing.
'Flowers of Himalaya' say stony slopes in areas near to the Tibetan border @
3600-5200m. I don't think the authors of these 'Red Lists' have spent much time
on high passes in the borderlands of Tibet to know the status of populations of
this plant, anymore than they know about colonies of Saxifraga jacquemontiana -
neither of which is under any threat whatsoever.
But what about the species what are GENUINELY rare & endangered.... This is a
seriously wrong situation which needs addressing at the highest levels
nationally and internationally.... Claims of rarity MUST be based upon
reliable and accurate information. How many botanists in India have regularly
botanised and surveyed in the high mountains? And of these, how many can
recognise, whilst in those mountains, such species as P.minutissima and
Saxifraga jacquemontiana. I have to an extent and can recognise them. So
perhaps my reliable evidence is worth listening to.
On Tuesday, June 10, 2014 at 8:13:00 AM UTC+1, D.S Rawat wrote:
Primula minutissima Jacq. ex Duby (Primulaceae) is a tinycarpet forming herb in
alpine zones of Western Himalaya. It is listed in 1997 IUCN Red List of
Threatened Plants and in Red List of Threatened Vascular Plant Species in
India(Rao et al. 2003).Though mentioned as Endangered,it requires review of
status since in the above document it is shown growingonly in Kashmir.This
photograph is taken from Kedarnath area (Uttarakhand)but unfortunately in late
season (October) thus have no flowers. The rosettesof the plants are visible
with preformed inflorescence bud in the center ofrosette.Itis an addition to
eFI database, I hope.
Dr D.S.RawatDepartment of Biological Sciences, G.B. Pant University of
Agriculture & Technology Pantnagar-263 145 Uttarakhand, INDIA
--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups
"efloraofindia" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email
to indiantreepix+unsubscribe@goog legroups.com.
To post to this group, send email to [email protected] .
Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/grou p/indiantreepix.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/op tout.
--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups
"efloraofindia" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email
to [email protected].
To post to this group, send an email to [email protected].
Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/indiantreepix.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
