© 2004-2009 The Meconopsis Group

The Meconopsis Group

Back

The species of Meconopsis
(Photographs mostly taken in the wild)
  • Please respect the copyright of these pictures and do not make unauthorised copies.
  • To view enlarged pictures click on the individual images below.
    (The enlarged picture will open in a new window in which pictures can often be further enlarged by dragging the bottom right corner of the window and/or by hovering over the picture and using the expand/magnify button which appears, depending on your browser.)
  • George Taylor's Classification of Meconopsis species may be helpful.
  • Figures in parentheses in the text refer to the pictures. For details of the photographers see Contributors.

Meconopsis bella

Meconopsis bella is a dwarf perennial species, native to central Nepal and eastwards to Bhutan at altitudes from 3750-5150m. It is reported growing in two different habitats, in crevices on vertical rocky cliffs and on less steep banks and ledges growing through dwarf shrubs or grasses. In photographs 1, 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11 and 14 the plants are growing on stable rock-faces, in photographs 5, 6, 7, 8, 12 and 13, they are growing amongst grasses or dwarf shrubs and in 15 (probably precariously) on a rock ledge. Toshio Yoshida believes the two different habitats reflect the different ages of the plants. Those growing on vertical rock faces are old plants in which long tap-roots have become established deep in the crevices in stable rocks. Those amongst grasses and dwarf shrubs are younger plants which have seeded into crevice-like sites in less stable slopes that will probably be washed away in the monsoons - when, the following year, he revisited the site he photographed in pictures 12 and 13 he found that the whole slope had been washed away. The upright stance of the capsules clearly seen in photograph 6 is perhaps a bit surprising as this species is noted for the curling over of the maturing capsules to reach towards the ground. The colour of the flowers may be variable - note the pink form in 7 and pinkish-purple of 8.

This dainty little species (up to 10-12 cm, 4-5") is almost certainly not in cultivation. It has defied the efforts of expert growers to raise it from seed, or if they have managed to do this, to keep it in good heart for any length of time, even given alpine house accommodation.
MH006
MH016 MH017 MH005

4. Above Jasta Khana mine in Ganesh Himal, Nepal
4300m
Photographer Mike Hirst

3. Above Jasta Khana mine in Ganesh Himal, Nepal
4300m
Photographer Mike Hirst

1. Above Jasta Khana mine in Ganesh Himal, Nepal
4300m
Photographer Mike Hirst

2. Above Jasta Khana mine in Ganesh Himal, Nepal
4300m
Photographer Mike Hirst
MH002 MH003 MH009 MH015

5. Marsyandi Valley, Nepal
Photographer Mike Hirst

6. Marsyandi Valley, Nepal
Photographer Mike Hirst

7. Marsyandi Valley, Nepal
Photographer Mike Hirst

8. Marsyandi Valley, Nepal
Photographer Mike Hirst
MH010
MH011

9. Above Jasta Khana mine in Ganesh Himal, Nepal
4300m
Photographer Mike Hirst

10. Above Jasta Khana mine in Ganesh Himal, Nepal
4300m
Photographer Mike Hirst
TY006a TY006 TY007 TL001

11. N. of Marothang, Wangdi-Phodrang District, C. Bhutan
Photographer Toshio Yoshida

12. Tampe Tso, Wangdi-Phodrang District, C. Bhutan
4300m
3 July 1992
Photographer Toshio Yoshida

13. Tampe Tso, Wangdi-Phodrang District, C. Bhutan
4300m
3 July 1992
Photographer Toshio Yoshida

14. Just below the Jule La on (probably) N facing cliff,
Central N. Bhutan.   ~4500m
7 July 2008
Photographer: Tim Lever
TL002

15. Close to the Om Tsho on a ledge at the base of a cliff (near left side of the picture, two-thirds from the top),
Central N. Bhutan. ~4400m
20 July 2008
Photographer: Tim Lever