纤细柴胡 xian xi chai hu

Bupleurum falcatum Linnaeus var. gracillimum (Klotzsch) H. Wolff.

Plants 6–30(–40) cm, perennial. Taproot slender. Stems numerous, caespitose, decumbent, slender, branching at base, yellow or tinged pink, base without fibrous remnant sheaths. Leaves sessile; blades linear, 1–6 × 0.2–0.6 cm, 7–11-nerved, gray-green, base slightly dilated, almost clasping, apex acuminate. Middle leaves shorter and broader, lanceolate, thinly 15–19-nerved. Umbels 1–3 cm across; bracts 3–4, ovate or elliptic, 4–9 × 2–4 mm, unequal; rays 3, 0.5–2 cm, rather thick, unequal; bracteoles (1–)3–5, ovate or lanceolate, 1.5–5 × 0.7–2.5 mm, very unequal; umbellules ca. 5 mm across, 3–6(–9)-flowered, only 2–3 flowers develop into fruit; pedicels ca. 1 mm. Petals yellow or dark purple. Stylopodium low-conic, dark yellow or purplish. Fruit ellipsoid or long-ovoid, brown, 3.5–4.5 × 2–2.3 mm, apex slightly narrow; ribs pale yellow, rounded; vittae 4–5 in each furrow, 4 on commissure. Fl. and Fr. Jul–Sep.

Alpine meadows, streamsides; 3200–4500 m. Sichuan [Bhutan, Kashmir, N Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan].