锡金葶苈 xi jin ting li

Draba tibetica J. D. Hooker & Thomson var. sikkimensis J. D. Hooker & Thomson, J. Proc. Linn. Soc., Bot. 5: 152. 1861; D. sikkimensis f. thoroldii O. E. Schulz.

Herbs perennial, (4-)7-20(-26) cm tall, densely cespitose, scapose. Caudex several branched, ultimate branches terminated in rosettes and covered with leaves or petiolar remains of previous years. Stems erect, simple, densely tomentose proximally, sparsely so distally. Basal leaves rosulate, persistent; petiole 2-10 mm, persistent; leaf blade spatulate, oblanceolate, oblong, or rarely obovate, (0.3-)0.5-1.5(-2) cm × (1-)2-4(-6) mm, densely subfloccose with fine, stalked, stellate trichomes with simple or branched slender rays, sometimes fewer, slender, simple trichomes also present, base attenuate to cuneate, margin entire, apex obtuse to subacute. Cauline leaves absent or 1-4, sessile; leaf blade ovate to oblong, 4-15 × 2-4 mm, indumentum as basal leaves, margin entire, apex obtuse. Racemes (2-)5-16(-20)-flowered, ebracteate, often elongated considerably in fruit; rachis straight. Fruiting pedicels (0.2-)0.7-1.7(-2) cm, erect and subappressed to rachis, or ascending, straight, tomentose all around. Sepals oblong, 2.5-3 × 1-1.5 mm, erect, abaxially sparsely pubescent, base of lateral pair not saccate, margin narrowly membranous. Petals white, broadly obovate, 5-7 × 2.5-4.5 mm, apex rounded; claw ca. 1 mm. Filaments 2.5-3; anthers ovate, 0.5-0.6 mm. Ovules 8-14 per ovary. Fruit oblong to elliptic, 6-12 × 2.5-3 mm, not inflated, latiseptate, twisted to 2 turns, very rarely not twisted; valves tomentose, not veined, base and apex obtuse; style (0.6-)1-1.5 mm. Seeds brown, ovate, 1-1.5 × 0.7-1 mm. Fl. Jun-Jul, fr. Aug-Sep.

Shady grassy slopes, stony slopes; 4800-5500 m. Xizang [Bhutan, Nepal, Sikkim].

The above first record from Nepal is based on Miyamoto et al. 9592300 (MO, TI).