Meconopsis tibetica - Photos In The Wild

Sha-U La SE Tibet Margaret Thorne.	Habitat Sha-U La SE Tibet Margaret Thorne.
Habitat Sha-U La, SE Tibet Martin Walsh.	Sha-U La. Although not well shown in this image there is a flat disc immediately above the ovary (seed pod) through which the style and stigma projects. This places the species in Discogyne - see M. discigera Martin Walsh.
Sha-U La. Wonderful image of a superb plant. Harry Jans.	Sha-U La. Highly desirable plant but like the rest of this group of the Discogyne will probably prove difficult to cultivate. Harry Jans.
A good close-up of the defining criteria of a disc between the style and stigma and the spiny ovary. Compare to the very similar and closely related M. torquata. Plant at 4,600m. on the Sam Chung La, S.E Tibet. Margaret Thorne mid August 2009.	Habitat shot with some plants approaching 1 metre in height. Margaret Thorne - the photographer- took a series of detailed measurements of flowering and non flowering rosettes as well as details of numbers of seed pods. This sort of data is invaluable since herbarium specimens are always scarce and collecting them should only be done by serious botanists with permission but archives of photographs and measurements will be become an increasingly important taxonomic tool. This data can be stored by the Meconopsis group in Edinburgh.
These plants were photographed near the Sam Chung La in the Everest National Park in SE Tibet. They occured from 4,600m. down to 4150 in the valley of the lakes below Tsonama. Margaret Thorne.	Clearly showing the long style. Jeanie Jones 2010.
Seedling 2010. These probably take more than 2 years to flower since this rosette will not be a current year's germination. This species seems likely to be possible in cultivation if seed can be obtained and at up to a metre high would be a spectacular plant.  Jeanie Jones.	Interesting to see so many old seed stems have survived the previous winte; it is possible that the disc found in the sub genus Discogyne protects the seed in the capsules over winter which may be shed the following spring.  Jeanie Jones 2010.