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The mountain slopes of Tibet are home
to many dozens of plants and flowers,but you should
resist the temptation to pick them. On the south slope
of Middle Himalayas and southeast Tibet , the abundance
centre of Tibetan flower plants extends from 3500m alt.
to the alpine zone. Many forms of flowers ornamentize
the background of meadows, thickets and dark coniferous
forests. The typical species are; Primula cawdoriana,
bluish purple; P. sinoplantagines var. fengxiangiana,
purple; Cyananthus lobatus, blue-violet; Saxifraga spp.,
yellow; Polygonum griffithii; Meconopsis horridula var.
racemosa, bluish; M. Integrifolia, yellow; Pedicularis
bella, rddish purple; P. fletcherii, white.
The distribution of Tibet 's wild flowers is rather
extensive. They are in different positions and
environments which the following changes are identified:
the series of moisture from arid and semiarid to
semimoist and moist; the series of temperature from
alpine frigid zone and frigid-temperate zone to
warm-temperate zone and mountain tropical zone; the
vegetation types from semimoist coniferous and
broadleaved deciduous forests to rain forests, from
frigid-temperate coniferous forests to tropical forests,
and from scrubs and steppes to meadows and wetlands; as
well as the landforms of glacier, desert, dune,
highland, valley and gorge. When you see Incarvillea and
Iris on the barren, the multi-colored rhododendrons in
the forest or on the slope, and the beautiful
orchids-epiphytic or terrestrial, you will be surprised
by the powerful potential of life and nature.
Meanwhile, the wild flowers of Tibet grow in very
different performances. Connected with the extreme
conditions at high elevation such as low temperature,
strong wind and high radiation, the plants got their
morphology of shortening, creeping, cushion, needle
shape or hairiness.
Compared to low elevation areas, the blossoming time on
Tibetan plateau is usually shorter. The middle spring to
early summer and the middle summer are the major two
flowering phases, with 1/3 and 2/3 flowering species
respectively. In the middle, the blossoms of Prunus mira
always give the southeastern plateau an obvious scene,
which is sometimes repainted by the spring snow. Then
follow the rhododendrons of subalpine forests and alpine
thickets.
Because of the role of ultra violet, the color of
flowers at high elevation is generally deeper than in
lowland. Particularly, in Tibet we often see purple and
orange flowers.
Some of Tibet 's wild flower are used as medicine
besides their amazing ornamental to the people. Their
extraordinarily excellent effects on the disease don't
only help the Tibetans overcome pains disease through
thousands of years, but, nowadays, help Tibetans have
their own medicine plants, which produce special
medicine with Tibetan wild flowers and contribute the
medicines to the world. Some of the wildflowers found in
Tibet are as follows.
- Aconitum longilobum Climbing herbaceous liana.
Quiquepartite rotund leaf, cordate base. 3 to 8 flowers,
blue purple. Flowering: Aug. to Sept. Frihygrophiles.
Only in the fir forest of Mt. Sergyila , 36 to 4000m,
Nyingchi.
- Anemone rupicola Perennial, 10 to 20cm tall, with
rhizme. Leaf blade cordiform, quinquepartite. White
flower,4 to 6cm, June to Aug. Most tendency, cold and
poorness tolerance. South to southeast Tibet , 3300 to
4200m.
- Sorbus rehderiana Little deciduous tree. 3 to 8m high.
Odd-pinnate commpound leaf with 7 to 10 pairs of folials.
Compound corymb, densely flowered. White flower, pink or
red fruit, 6 to 8mm, subovate. Flowering: June to July.
Fruiting: Aug to Sept. Cool and nutrient tendency. South
and east Tibet , 3300 to 4400 m, dark coniferous forest,
valley forest or bush. |
