双叶梅花草 shuang ye mei hua cao

Stem 1(or 2), 10-50 cm, with 2 leaves proximally or near middle. Basal leaves 2-7, sometimes forming a rosette; petiole 3-7 cm; leaf blade abaxially greenish, densely purple-brown punctate, adaxially deep green, oblong-ovate, 1.5-3.5 × 1-2.1 cm, 5(-7)-veined with veins prominent abaxially and impressed adaxially, base subcordate or subtruncate, apex rounded-obtuse, sometimes apiculate. Cauline leaves alternate, sessile or mostly shortly petiolate, inconspicuously brown punctate, similar to basal ones but (0.6-)1-2.9 × (0.5-)1.5 cm, 3-5-veined, with 2 or 3 caducous, rusty brown appendages at base. Flower 2-2.9 cm in diam.; hypanthium turbinate. Sepals purple-brown punctate, lanceolate, 7-9 × 2-2.5 mm, 5(-7)-veined, margin entire, apex acuminate. Petals erect, white, spatulate, 1.4-1.7 cm × 6-8 mm, base cuneate into a claw ca. 2 mm, margin entire, apex rounded. Anthers ellipsoid, ca. 1.5 mm; filaments 5-6 mm; staminodes deep brown, flat, ca. 5 mm, stalk ca. 1.5 × 1 mm, lamina 3-3.5 × ca. 2 mm, 2-lobed, lobes lanceolate or oblong, 1.5-2 mm. Ovary ovoid-globose; style short; stigma 3-lobed, lobes short. Capsule unknown. Fl. Jul-Aug, fr. Aug. 2n = 36+0-8s*.

Forests, shaded slopes, streamsides; 2200-2800 m. Xinjiang [Russia].