单花龙胆 dan hua long dan

Annuals 2-4 cm tall. Stems purple, erect, simple or few branched from base. Basal leaves withered at anthesis; petiole 1.5-2 mm; leaf blade obovate to ovate-orbicular, 6-8 × 2-5 mm, densely papillate, margin cartilaginous, apex rounded and mucronate, midvein prominent. Stem leaves crowded; petiole tube 0.5-0.8 mm; leaf blade ovate or toward stem base spatulate to obovate, 2.5-5 × 2.5-3.5 mm, densely papillate, margin broadly membranous or toward stem base cartilaginous, apex acute, midvein abaxially prominent. Flowers few; sessile or pedicel 2-3 mm, purple, surrounded by leaves, densely papillate. Calyx narrowly obconic, 6-8 mm, densely pubescent; lobes narrowly triangular to lanceolate, 2.5-3.5 mm, margin broadly membranous, apex acuminate and caudate, midvein prominent. Corolla pale blue, with dark blue stripes, narrowly obconic, (1.4-)2-2.5 cm; lobes broadly ovate, 2-4.5 mm, margin entire, apex obtuse to rounded; plicae broadly ovate, 1.5-2.5 mm, margin rounded crenulate. Stamens inserted at middle of corolla tube, unequal; filaments 3.5-4.5 mm; anthers narrowly ellipsoid, 1.3-1.5 mm. Style 2.5-3 mm; stigma lobes broadly oblong. Capsules narrowly obovoid, 8-9 mm; gynophore ca. 4 mm. Seeds brown, ellipsoid, 0.9-1.1 mm. Fl. and fr. Apr-Jul.

* Hillsides, foothills; 3600-4500 m. W Sichuan.