Mertensia popovii Rubtzov.

Herbs perennial. Rhizomes short, thickened. Stems thin, 30-50 cm tall. Basal leaves early deciduous, ovate, small; stem leaves many, long petiolate, light green, ovate, 2-5 cm; upper leaves sessile, oblong, extremely thin, margin hirsute. Inflorescences terminal. Pedicel filamentous, to 1 cm, very short hirsute. Calyx parted to base, 4-4.5 mm; lobes linear, short strigose, apex acute. Corolla dark blue, (1.2-)1.5-2 cm; lobes of limb ovate, 3-4 mm; appendages arclike. Style slightly exserted. Nutlets white, oblong, ca. 4 mm, rugate, apex acute. Fl. Jun-Jul, fr. Jul-Aug.

Meadows of slopes, glades. NW Xinjiang (Saur Shan, Tarbagatai Shan) [Kazakhstan, W Mongolia].