Journal of Threatened Taxa | www.threatenedtaxa.org | 26 August 2021 | 13(9): 19386–19388

 

 

ISSN 0974-7907 (Online) | ISSN 0974-7893 (Print) 

https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.7289.13.9.19386-19388

#7289 | Received 02 April 2021 | Final received 02 August 2021 | Finally accepted 11 August 2021

 

 

Rediscovery of the Bhutan Primrose Primula jigmediana W.W. Smith (Angiosperms: Primulaceae) after 87 years in Bumdeling Wildlife Sanctuary, Bhutan

 

Tez B. Ghalley 1, Tshering Dendup 2, Karma Sangay 3  & Namgay Shacha 4

 

1–4 Bumdeling Wildlife Sanctuary, Department of Forests and Park services, Ministry of Agriculture and Forests,

Royal Government of Bhutan.

1 tbghalley@moaf.gov.bt (corresponding author), 2 tsheringdendup@moaf.gov.bt, 3 karmasangay1970@gmail.com, 4 namgayshacha22@gmail.com

 

 

 

Editor: K. Haridasan, Palakkad District, Kerala, India.  Date of publication: 26 August 2021 (online & print)

 

Citation: Ghalley, T.B., T. Dendup, K. Sangay & N. Shacha (2021). Rediscovery of the Bhutan Primrose Primula jigmediana W.W. Smith (Angiosperms: Primulaceae) after 87 years in Bumdeling Wildlife Sanctuary, Bhutan. Journal of Threatened Taxa 13(9): 19386–19388. https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.7289.13.9.19386-19388

 

Copyright: © Ghalley et al. 2021. Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.  JoTT allows unrestricted use, reproduction, and distribution of this article in any medium by providing adequate credit to the author(s) and the source of publication.

 

Funding: None.

 

Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests.

 

Acknowledgements: The authors would like to thank the management of Bumdeling Wildlife Sanctuary, Trashiyangtse for thier full support and guidance.

 

 

The genus Primula L. of the family Primulaceae is one of the largest and widely spread of all genera with approximately 430 species distributed mainly in temperate and alpine regions of the northern hemisphere (Richards 2003). In Bhutan, there are about 71 species of Primula L. recorded in the country (Grierson & Long 1999). The first expedition of Ludlow & Sherriff to explore eastern Himalaya, particularly Bhutan and southeastern Tibet, was in 1933. During their expedition they discovered no less than 26 species of Primula new to science (Richards 2003). It was during that time the species Primula jigmediana was discovered for the first time and was named in honour of His Majesty the 2nd King of Bhutan for his kindness and courtesy during their visit to the country (Smith 1936).

Primula jigmediana is atypical compared to other Primula species and its distribution is still poorly studied (Smith & Fletcher 1942). Bawri et al. (2018) during botanical expedition in Arunachal Pradesh, India discovered Primula jigmediana for the first time. The species is found to be rare with few individuals (Bawri et al. 2018). The same species found in Arunachal Pradesh has narrower leaves as compared to species recorded in Bhutan (Bahrali et al. 2018). The present observation of the species from Bumdeling Wildlife Sanctuary, Bhutan records the rediscovery of this species after a lapse of 87 years, and presents additional morphological description along with conservation threat and distribution of the species.

Primula jigmediana was sighted in northeastern part of Bumdeling Wildlife Sanctuary, Bhutan (91.541°E, 27.906°N) on 18 July 2020 at an elevation of 4,490 m. The manual Flora of Bhutan (Grierson & Long 1999) was used for identification and morphological description of Primula jigmediana. The herbarium was prepared following Smith (1971). The specimen is deposited in the herbarium section of the Bumdeling Wildlife Sanctuary.

 

Taxonomy

Primula jigmediana W.W. Smith (1936); Smith & Fletcher (1942); Grierson & Long (1999); Richard (2003); Bawri et al. (2018).

Type: Bhutan, Me La, 3.viii.1933, Ludlow & Sherriff 397 (Holotype- BM!). Seen as a photo.

Description: Primula jigmediana W.W. Smith is a perennial herb in the family Primulaceae. It has calyx up to 2.5–3 cm tall. Leaves in compact rosettes, 6–11 mm. Petiole and leaf blade almost equal in length, 2–5 mm. Lamina oblanceolate, bluntly dentate at the margin, glabrous, efarinose, leaf apex obtuse, 5–6 pairs, alternate, yellowish-green. Scapes 2.5–3 cm tall with single heterostylous flower. Pedicel 1–3 mm and is curved and farinose. Single curved bract, 1–2 mm long. Calyx greenish or blackish-purple, 2-3 mm, cup shape with faintly farinose, parted to middle, lobes ovate, acute to obtuse.  Corolla funnel shaped, 4–8 mm long, bluish-purple with dark wine purple annulus, lobes obovate (Image 1). Long style makes the stigma above the anther (pin flower), some flowers have short style making the anther above the stigma (Thrum flower). Capsule sub-globose (Smith 1936; Grierson & Long 1999; Richard 2003; Bawri et al. 2018). 

Distribution: Bhutan, Bumdeling Wildlife Sanctuary (Figure 1) and India (Arunachal Pradesh).

Specimens examined: Bhutan, Bumdeling Wildlife Sanctuary, Rigsumlhatsho, (91.541°E, 27.906°N; 4,490 m), 18 July 2020, W.W. Smith, Me La, 1936 (Holotype BM, Photo!).

Habitat: Primula jigmediana in Bumdeling Wildlife Sanctuary was found growing in marshy and humid areas along the sides of streams and lakes. It was also found growing on wet stony slopes along with the mosses (Image 1). Associate species like Potentilla penduncularis D. Don, Rumex nepalensis Sprengel and the high value insect- pathogenic fungus Ophiocordyceps sinensis (Berk.) G.H. Sung, J.M. Sung, Hywel-Jones, & Spatafora were found growing in the area. Primula jigmediana was found growing in Rigsum Gonpa, Ngangpatsho, Padmaling, and Goneyla area in Bumdeling Wildlife Sanctuary in between elevation of 4,300- 4,600 m. Bawri et al. (2018) described the ecology of this species in humid and marshy areas along the sides of streams and wet stony slopes of meadows. In Arunachal Pradesh the species was recorded at the altitude of 3,500- 4,500 m (Bawri et al. 2015) and later in between the elevation of 3,900- 4,000 m (Bawri et al. 2018). This indicates narrow growth territory of Primula jigmediana as it is restricted to specific locality.  

Flowering: Primula jigmediana flowers in June–July. Similar flowering time was recorded in Arunachal Pradesh, India (Bawri et al. 2015, 2018).

Conservation status: A few individuals of Primula jigmediana were found growing at critical stage in a narrow habitat in northeastern part of Bumdeling Wildlife Sanctuary. Despite of being rare, Primula jigmediana is still not listed in the IUCN Red list category. It is palatable and a fodder species for yaks in Himalaya. Nomadic inhabitants rear a large number of yaks and other breeds of cattle. These animals destroy the population by browsing and trampling impeding natural regenerations. Similar threats from grazing, developmental activities, and landslides were recorded from Arunachal Pradesh, India (Bawri et al. 2015, 2018). Every year these areas receive hundreds of Ophiocordyceps sinensis collectors, which is also one of the threats to its habitat. Hence, larger damage to the population of Primula jigmediana by trampling can be foreseen from Ophiocordyceps sinensis collectors. Since, prime habitat of the Bhutan Primrose is along the sides of streams and lakes, the landslides and runoff were observed affecting the habitat of the species. Therefore, it is very important that concerned authorities and agencies initiate appropriate strategies to conserve this species from anthropogenic and natural threats. 

 

 

For figure & image - - click here

 

 

References

 

Bahrali, P., A.K. Das & M. Liden (2018). Notes on the alpine flora of Arunachal Pradesh, including several species new to India, pp. 163–194. In: Das, A.P. & S. Bera (eds.). Plant Diversity in The Himalaya Hotspot Region - Vol. 1.  Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh, Dehradun, xii+425pp.

Bawri, A., P.R. Gajurel, A. Paul & M.L. Khan (2015). Diversity and distribution of Primula species in western Arunachal Pradesh, eastern Himalayan region, India. Journal of Threatened Taxa 7(1): 6788–6795. https://doi.org/10.11609/JoTT.o3721.6788-95

Bawri, A., P.R. Gajurel & M.L. Khan (2018). An amplified description and conservation status of a little-known endemic: Primula jigmediana WW Sm. (Family: Primulaceae). Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society  115: 17–18. https://doi.org/10.17087/jbnhs/2018/v115/105653

Grierson, A.J.C. & D.G. Long (1999). Primulaceae, pp. 515–554. In: Long, D.G. (ed.). Flora of Bhutan: Including a Record of Plants from Sikkim and Darjeeling - Vol. 2. Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh, 1033 pp.

Richards, J. (2003). Primula - Revised edition. Timber Press, London, UK, 346pp.

Smith, C.E. (1971). Preparing herbarium specimens of vascular plants (No. 348). Agricultural Research Service, US Department of Agriculture 29: 1–13.

Smith, W.W. (1936). New Primulas from the Himalaya, Tibet, China and Burma. Notes from the Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh 19: 167–174.

Smith, W.W. & H.R. Fletcher (1942). The section Soldanelloideae of the genus Primula. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society 52(344): 321–335. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1095-8339.1942.tb01344.x