Collections for molecular research
As part of ongoing molecular studies at RBGE samples of any interesting liverwort genera were collected in silica gel for later analysis. 39 liverworts were sampled, including the genera Apotreubia, Cryptomitrium, Asterella, Delavayella, Wiesnerella, Anastrophyllum, calycularia, Jamesoniella and many others. Several mosses in Thuidiaceae were collected for a molecular study by a student in Mexico. As part of the ongoing RBGE Flexible Fund Project Microsatellites as population genetic markers populations of the disjunct liverwort Anastrophyllum joergensenii were collected in three sites in the Gosainkund and Langtang areas. In each site 10 to 20 stems of the liverwort from each of 30 meta-populations were collected and placed in sealable plastic bags. Back at camp these samples had to be sorted and cleaned and placed in clean bags with silica gel and labeled. At each site herbarium vouchers were also taken. These stems are to be used for analysis of nuclear and chloroplast DNA, and compared with comparable samples of the same species from NW Scotland.

Leaf samples for DNA sequence analysis were collected for all the Umbellifers encountered. These will be used primarily for inclusion in an ongoing international collaborative project elucidating the relationships between genera and subfamilies in the Umbelliferae. Samples of some genera (e.g. Acronema) will be used for lower level studies on generic limits.

Images
325 digital images were captured (primarily by David Knott) and over 2,000 35mm colour photographic slides were taken by the RBGE participants on the expedition. The digital images were taken using a Nikon Coolpix 950 at a resolution of 2048x1360 pixels at 72 pixels per inch and 16 million colours. The average file size was 8Mb, but when saved by the camera this reduced down to 600Kb with Huffman-Standard JPG compression. The images were stored on four 64Mb Compact Flash media cards.

The colour slides will be used for publications and projection where a high quality image is needed. The digital images were labelled and copied onto a CD-ROM a few days after the group returned. The CD-ROM was distributed between the expedition members (including the Deptartment of Plant Resources, Nepal) and given to RBGE Print and Publications group. Almost immediately they were used to illustrate articles in the media (see below), RBGE public literature and posters. The image quality is fine for printing to at least 18 x 13cm, as this has been done for a poster presentation on collecting methods in the field. All the images used in this Web-based report are taken from this very useful digitial resource. This is the first time any of the expedition members had taken a digital camera on an expedition, and it proved to be a great success.

Field Experience and Training
The two members of the team who had not worked in the Himalaya previously participated in all aspects of the expedition, including collecting, pressing, data recording, drying, seed collecting, seed cleaning, etc. This gave them excellent experience in all aspects of Himalayan field botany.

Collaborative links
Excellent collaborative links were built up with many botanists in Nepal, especially those in the Department of Plant Resources, and in Tribhuvan University. The Department of Plant Resources held an official evening reception on Thursday 20th September, at which we were the guests of honor. This convivial occasion helped raise our profile within the departments of H.M. Goverment of Nepal, and was a wonderful opportunity for us to meet some famous names of Nepalese botany who are now retired.

Our unfortunate encounter with Maoists had the unexpected benefit of giving us a chance to meet and build links with staff of the British Embassy and British Council in Kathmandu. These links were very valuable in staging the first editorial meeting for the Flora of Nepal which was held at RBGE in May 2002.