川西火绒草 chuan xi huo rong cao

Leontopodium chui Handel-Mazzetti; L. wilsonii var. majus Beauverd.

Herbs, perennial. Stems woody, erect, not branched, 12-42 cm tall, entire plant light gray tomentose, densely arranged with leaves in upper part, densely covered with brown decayed leaves in lower part. Leaves linear-lanceolate, 24-35 × 2-2.8 mm, abaxially densely covered with light gray tomentum, adaxially green, light gray pilose, lateral veins indistinct, base narrowed, apex acute. Capitula 7-11, dioecious or heterogamous, 4-5 cm in diam.; bracteal leaves 15-20, densely arranged, oblong, larger than upper leaves, forming a star of 4-5.5 cm in diam., both surfaces densely grayish white tomentose, apex acute. Phyllaries 2- or 3-seriate, ovate, ca. 4 mm, apex obtuse, abaxially white tomentose, black-brown adaxially. Corolla ca. 3 mm. Achenes oblong, ca. 1 mm, glabrous. Pappus white, ca. 3 mm, serrulate. Fl. Jun-Aug, fr. Sep-Oct.

● Grasslands, thickets, rocks; 2000-2500 m. S Gansu, Sichuan.

Specimens from Gansu identified as Leontopodium jacotianum var. minus (Beauverd) Handel-Mazzetti are referable to this species.