刘氏大戟 liu shi da ji

Herbs, erect, ca. 15 cm tall. Root thinly terete, yellow- brown, 6-16 cm × 2-6 mm. Stems 2-4 mm thick, many branched above middle; sterile stems present, ca. 10 cm. Leaves alternate; stipules absent; petiole absent; leaf blade linear to obovate-lanceolate, 2-6 cm × 3-7 mm, base attenuate or truncate, apex acuminate or acute. Involucral leaves 4 or 5, ovate-lanceolate, 2-3 × 0.6-0.9 cm, base truncate or attenuate, apex acuminate or acute, rays 4 or 5, ovate-rounded or ?subtriangular-ovate, 8-12 × 0.8-1(-1.2) cm, base truncate or emarginate, apex obtuse. Cyathium sessile; involucre cuplike, ca. 3 × 3 mm, lobes rounded, apex emarginate, some pilose inside; glands 4, brown, dentate-lobed. Male flowers many, exserted from involucre. Female flower: ovary pedicel 3-4 mm, exserted from cup; ovary smooth, glabrous; styles connate below middle; style arms deeply 2-lobed. Fruit and seed not seen. Fl. May.

● "Front plain of mountains." Nei Mongol (Alxa Meng).