Hutchinsia tibetica Thomson, Icon. Pl. 9: t. 900. 1852; Capsella thomsonii J. D. Hooker; Hedinia elata C. L. He & Z. X. An; H. rotundata Z. X. An; H. taxkargannica G. L. Zhou & Z. X. An; H. taxkargannica var. hejigensis G. L. Zhou & Z. X. An; Smelowskia tibetica (Thomson) Lipsky.
Herbs (1-)5-30(-45) cm tall, densely to sparsely pubescent, canescent or green. Stems procumbent or ascending, densely hirsute basally with primarily simple trichomes to 1.3 mm. Basal leaves sparsely to densely pubescent; petiole (0.2-)0.5-2(-3.5) cm, often ciliate basally; leaf blade ovate or narrowly oblong in outline, 1- or 2-pinnatisect, (0.3-)1-4(-7) × (0.2-)0.7-2(-2.5) cm; ultimate lobes ovate or oblong-linear, 1-12 × 0.5-3 mm. Cauline leaves similar to basal, reduced in size and divisions toward stem apex. Racemes bracteate throughout or rarely only basally; distal bracts subsessile, sometimes adnate to pedicel. Fruiting pedicel, straight, erect or ascending, 1.5-3.5(-5) mm, pubescent, subappressed to rachis. Sepals oblong, 1.3-2 × 0.7-0.9 mm, sparsely pubescent. Petals obovate, 2-3.2 × (0.6-)0.9-1.4 mm; claw ca. 1.5 mm. Filaments 1.5-2 mm; anthers 0.3-0.4 mm. Ovules 20-46 per ovary. Fruit broadly oblong, rarely oblong-linear or suborbicular, (4.5-)5-10(-14) × 3-5 mm, flat or slightly twisted, obtuse, slightly retuse, or rarely subacute at both ends, appressed to rachis; valves glabrous or pubescent; style 0.3-0.8 mm, glabrous or rarely pubescent. Seeds light to dark brown, oblong, 0.8-1.1 × 0.4-0.6 mm. Fl. Jun-Aug, fr. Jul-Sep.
Sandstone gravel, alpine meadows, steppe, scree, sandy slopes; 3900-5200 m. Gansu, Qinghai, Sichuan, Xinjiang, Xizang [Bhutan, India, Nepal, Sikkim, Tajikistan].
Presently treated by Ihsan Al-Shehbaz as Smelowskia tibetica (Thomson) Lipsky.
