匍枝柴胡 pu zhi chai hu

Bupleurum longicaule de Candolle var. dalhousieanum C. B. Clarke in J. D. Hooker, Fl. Brit. India 2: 677. 1879 ["dalhousieana"].

Plants (5–)10–20 cm, perennial. Rootstock long, woody, branched. Stems purplish-red, numerous, usually decumbent, base without fibrous remnant sheaths. Basal leaves few; blade linear, 3–8 × 0.2–0.4 cm, 5–7-nerved, tapering into petiole. Upper leaves sessile; blade lanceolate or ovate, 1.5–5 × 0.3–0.8 cm, base rounded, clasping, apex acuminate, sometimes caudate. Umbels few, 1.5–2.5 cm across, terminal; bracts 1–3, ovate, 5–18 × 4–8 mm, unequal; rays 2–4, 1–2 cm, unequal; bracteoles (4–)6–10, broadly ovate or obovate, tinged purple, 4–8 × 3.5–5.5 mm, slightly exceeding flowers, apex apiculate; umbellules 11–13 mm across, 16–24-flowered; pedicels 1–2 mm. Petals purplish. Stylopodium low-conic, dark purple. Fruit oblong-ovoid, brown, ca. 4 × 2 mm; ribs narrowly winged; vittae 3 in each furrow, 4 on commissure. Fl. and fr. Jun–Sep.

Alpine regions, mountain summits, rock crevices; 3700–4800 m. W Sichuan, S and W Xizang, NW Yunnan [Bhutan, NE India, N Myanmar, Sikkim].

This species has reputed medicinal value.