极小谷精草 ji xiao gu jing cao

Leaves linear, 2--3 cm, 0.5--0.7 mm wide at middle, veins 3--5. Scapes 1(--5), 3-ribbed; sheath 1.2--1.8 cm; receptacle with a few short hairs; heads yellowish green at base, black at apex, subglobose, ca. 1.5 × 2--3 mm, 3- or 4-flowered; involucral bracts yellowish green to blackish, ovate, ca. 1.7 × 1.2 mm, membranous, glabrous; floral bracts black, obovate to oblanceolate, ca. 1.4 × 0.7--1 mm, glabrous. Male flowers: sepals black, spathelike, ca. 1.4 mm, glabrous, apex 3-lobed; petals 3, broadly ovate, equal, glabrous, gland black; anthers black. Female flowers: sepals black, spathelike, ca. 1.4 mm, basally connate, margin with a few short hairs, apex 3-lobed; petals 3, clavate, fleshy, adaxially with 1--3 hairs at center, gland black; ovary 3-loculed; style 3-cleft. Seeds ovoid, ca. 0.9 mm; testa reticulate, prickles nail-shaped. Fl. and fr. Jul--Oct.

* Swamps; ca. 3800 m. W Sichuan (Dawu Xian).