库如措紫堇 ku ru cuo zi jin

Type: China. Xizang: Kuru Chu SW of Lhozak [Lhozhag] valley, 28°18′N, 90°51′E, subalpine moist rock ledges in Rhododendron scrub, alt. 4420 m, 22 Jul 1994, W. B. Dickoré 9809 (holotype, GOET; isotype, UPS).

Ab affini Corydale sherriffii caulibus brevioribus, radicibus fusiformibus non longe stipitatis atque bracteis minoribus integris differt.

Paratype: W. B. Dickoré 9794 (GOET).

Herbs. perennial, 10-15 cm, glabrous, very glaucous, slightly fleshy; stems and petioles of radical leaves attenuate to filiform underground base. Storage roots sessile or on short thick indistinct stalk, fusiform, 10-20 × 2-4 mm, also thin long stalks (probably stolons) present. Stems few, simple, with 1 or 2 leaves. Radical leaves: petiole 3-5 cm; blade 1-3 × 1-2.5 cm, ternate to biternate or imparipinnate; pinnae broadly lanceolate to elliptic, acute to shortly acuminate. Cauline leaves subsessile; blade 1-2 × 1-2 cm, pinnate; pinnae 2 pairs, 8-15 × 3-6 mm. Racemes 5-11-flowered; bracts entire, broadly lanceolate, 4-6 mm, or upper smaller. Pedicel 8-12 mm, recurved in fruit. Sepals whitish, ca. 0.5 × 0.5 mm, dentate. Corolla purple, inner petals whitish. Upper petal ca. 15 mm, acute to shortly acuminate, with entire to slightly dentate crest ca. 1.5 mm wide, decurrent on spur; spur slightly downcurved at apex, tapering to apex, ca. 7 mm; nectary ca. 1/2 as long as spur; lower petal ca. 8 mm, subobtuse, slightly dentate; inner petals ca. 7 mm. Stigma square; simple marginal papillae: 2 median distinct, lateral broad and indistinct; geminate papillae lateral (submarginal) and terminating well-developed basal lobes. Fruit and seeds unknown; style ca. 3 mm. Fl. and fr. Jul-Aug.

● Subalpine moist rock ledges in Rhododendron scrub; ca. 4400 m. S Xizang (Lhozhag).

The specific epithet is based on the geographic locality of the type.