紫茎小芹 zi jing xiao qin

Carum coloratum Diels, Notes Roy. Bot. Gard. Edinburgh 5: 287. 1912.

Plants 8–25 cm. Taproot elongate, 3–15 × 0.5–1 cm, thickened at apex, branched. Stems 1–4, characteristically purlish, unbranched or 1–2-branched. Basal petioles 2–7 cm, sheaths oblong-ovate, purplish; blade ovate-lanceolate in outline, 2–8 × 1–3 cm, 1–2-pinnate; pinnae 4–5 pairs; ultimate segments linear-lanceolate, 3–10 × 0.5–2 mm. Umbels 2.5–6 cm across; bracts absent, occasionally 1–2, linear, occasionally leaf-like; rays 5–8(–12), 1–3 cm; bracteoles absent, rarely 1, linear, ca. 2 mm; umbellules 8–16 mm, 8–15-flowered; pedicels 3–5 mm, unequal. Calyx teeth subulate, 0.2–0.4 mm, unequal. Petals white, apex usually entire, occasionally 2–3-lobed. Young fruit oblong-ovoid, ca. 1.5 × 1 (mature fruit unknown). Fl. and fr. Jul–Oct.

Brushy alpine meadows, limestone rock crevices; 2900–4600 m. W Sichuan, S Xizang, NW Yunnan [NE India].