五叶龙胆 wu ye long dan

Perennials 8-15 cm tall. Stems ascending, simple, papillate. Basal rosette leaves poorly developed; leaf blade triangular, 3-7 × 1-1.5 mm, membranous, apex acute. Stem leaves sessile, in whorls of 5 (or 6), larger toward apex, uppermost leaves surrounding calyx, base connate for 2-3 mm, margin smooth, apex obtuse, midvein distinct. Lower stem leaves withered at anthesis, linear-spatulate, 2-3 × 1-1.5 mm; middle to upper leaves linear to linear-lanceolate, 5-7 × 1.5-2 mm, apex acuminate. Flowers terminal, solitary, sessile, 5merous. Calyx tube narrowly obconic, 6-8 mm; lobes linear-spatulate, 4-4.5 mm, herbaceous, base narrowed, margin smooth, apex obtuse, midvein distinct. Corolla blue, with dark blue streaks, narrowly obconic, 3.5-5 cm; lobes broadly triangular, 2-3 mm, margin entire, apex obtuse with a caudate tip 1-2 mm; plicae broadly ovate, 1-1.5 mm, margin erose, apex obtuse. Stamens inserted at basal part of corolla tube; filaments 8-10 mm; anthers narrowly ellipsoid, 2-2.5 mm. Ovary narrowly ellipsoid, 0.9-1.1 cm; gynophore 1.1-1.5 cm. Style 5-7 mm; stigma lobes linear. Fl. Jul-Sep.

* Alpine meadows, forest margins; 3400-4800 m. N and W Sichuan.