变叶风毛菊 bian ye feng mao ju

Saussurea mutabilis var. diplochaeta Y. Ling.

Herbs 40-70(-100) cm tall, perennial. Stem solitary, erect, apically much branched, sparsely pubescent. Lower stem leaves withered at anthesis. Middle stem leaves petiolate; petiole 5-11 cm; leaf blade ovate to elliptic, 7-15 × 5-9 cm, thin, lyrately pinnately parted or undivided, both surfaces green and glabrous or subglabrous; lateral lobes 1 or 2 pairs, elliptic to triangular; terminal lobe ovate, margin sinuate-dentate, apex acute. Upper stem leaves shortly petiolate or sessile, gradually smaller upward on stem; leaf blade lyrately pinnately parted or undivided; lateral lobes if present 1 pair, ovate-elliptic. Capitula numerous, in a paniculiform or corymbiform synflorescence. Involucre narrowly campanulate, 4-9 mm in diam. Phyllaries in 5 or 6 rows, arachnoid; outer phyllaries ovate, apex recurved; inner phyllaries narrowly ovate-elliptic, apex acute to subobtuse. Corolla white, 8-11 mm. Achene pale brown, ca. 5 mm, glabrous. Pappus white; outer bristles ca. 3 mm, scabrid; inner bristles ca. 1 cm. Fl. and fr. Aug-Sep.

● Montane forests; 1300-1800 m. Gansu, S Shaanxi (Qin Ling).