© 2004-2009 The Meconopsis Group
The Meconopsis Group
The species of Meconopsis
(Photographs mostly taken in the wild)
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(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 discigera
The species M. discigera is one of five placed in a separate sub-genus Discogyne. They are distinguished from all other species by possessing a flat disc on top of the ovary. Full details of the sub-genus were given in an article by Chris Grey-Wilson in 2006. (Full reference in Discogyne ).
M. discigera is monocarpic. A dense rosette of leaves develops which increases in size for several years until the plant reaches flowering size. It then produces a raceme of flowers up to 60cm (usually less) high, then it sets seed and dies. The high, bleak, rocky habitats in which they grow, often seemingly almost in the absence of any soil, appear surprising for plants of such delicate appearance and quite tall stature. The pictures below give a vivid impression of the harsh terrain this species inhabits.
M. discigera occurs from east Nepal, through Sikkim to central and north Bhutan and south Tibet (map). It seems that Nepalese plants have whitish or pale yellow flowers while those from Bhutan may be blue, purple or red. We are able here to illustrate the blue form (in west Bhutan) and pale yellow and whitish forms (in east Nepal).
Seeds are sometimes available from wild collections, but success in raising it to flowering has been very limited
(I have done it once - a single plant flowered in October and did not set seed. E.S.)
3. A whitish form growing amongst rocks.
E Nepal
Photographer: P. Boardman
1. Young leaf rosette,
Yamatari Glacier, Kanchenjunga,
E Nepal
Photographer: Mike Hirst
2. A colony well established in a rocky gully in E Nepal.
Photographer: Pete Boardman
4. Again amongst rocks. E Nepal
Photographer: P. Boardman
5. Closer-up view of whitish form. E Nepal
Photographer: P. Boardman
6. Blue-flowered form on a scree slope in Paro Chu, W Bhutan
4380m, July 2008
Photographer: Margaret Thorne
7 & 8. Closer views of blue-flowered form 6. Note characteristic shape of leaves which are wedge-shaped and shallowly 3- or 5-lobed towards the apex.
Photographer: Margaret Thorne
9. Plant in fruit with dark red discs & one blue flower, growing on a scree slope.
SE of Mt Jhomolhari,
Paro District, W Bhutan
4200m 11th Aug 1995
Photographer: Toshio Yoshida
10. Pale yellow-flowered form on an unstable stony slope
S of Umbok La, Lumba Samba Himal, Kanchenjunga, E Nepal
4500m 4th July 1990
Photographer: Toshio Yoshida
11. Pale yellow-flowered form on a rock ledge, beside Yalung Glacier,
SW of Mt Kanchenjunga,
E Nepal
4400m 22nd July, 1988 Photographer: Toshio Yoshida
12. As for 11
4500m on 19th July, 1988
Height of plants, 20-50cm
Photographer: Toshio Yoshida
13. An “improbable” (!) habitat on the side of a rocky gully, Lumba Samba Kharka,
E Nepal
Photographer: Mike Hirst
14. A delicate-looking plant braving harsh conditions on a rocky ledge, Lapsaun, above Ramze, Kanchenjunga,
E Nepal 5200m
Photographer M. Hirst
16. Another whitish-flowered form, growing on a rocky ledge, Kanchenjunga,
E. Nepal
Photographer Mike Hirst
15. Whitish-flowered form above Yamatari Glacier,
E Nepal
Photographer: Mike Hirst