臭蚤草 chou zao cao

Herbs, perennial. Rhizome long, stout and densely branched, with densely white lanate buds. Stems 5-25 cm tall, not branched or with 2 or 3 flowering branches, densely tomentose. Basal leaves oblanceolate, base gradually narrowed to petiole, apex obtuse; cauline leaves sessile, 4-8 × 1.2-2 cm, oblong or ovate-oblong, surfaces densely pubescent, base semiamplexicaul, margin entire, apex obtuse; lateral veins 4 or 5 pairs, inconspicuous. Capitula solitary, rarely with additional 1 or 2 axillary capitula. Involucre broadly campanulate, 1.2-1.5 × 2-2.5 cm; phyllaries in 2 or 3 series, linear-lanceolate or linear, apex acuminate, outer ones 10-15 × ca. 1 mm, herbaceous above, abaxially densely hispid, apex acuminate, inner herbaceous, 14-20 × ca. 1 mm, abaxially hispid, apex acuminate. Ray florets yellow, pubescent outside; lamina 1-1.5(-2) × ca. 1.5 mm, apex 3-dentate. Disk florets: corolla tubular, ca. 7 mm, glabrous. Achenes cylindric, 2.5-3.5 mm, light brown sericeous, apex truncate, base narrower. Pappus white, in 2 series; outer ones of ca. 5 chaffs of 1-1.3 mm, apex acuminate; inner ones of 5 plumose bristles ca. 7 mm. Fl. Jul-Sep.

Rocky slopes, alpine meadows; 3400-4600 m. SW Qinghai, Xizang [N India].