Cheiranthus acaulis Handel-Mazzetti, Anz. Akad. Wiss. Wien, Math.-Naturwiss. Kl. 62: 64. 1925, not Balbiani ex Sprengel (1819); C. forrestii (W. W. Smith) Handel-Mazzetti var. acaulis K. C. Kuan.

Herbs perennial, (2-)3-7(-10) cm tall; caudex several branched, covered with petiolar remains of previous years. Trichomes malpighiaceous, rarely a few 3-fid on leaves adaxially. Stems absent. Basal leaves rosulate; petiole (0.7-)1.5-4.5(-6) cm; leaf blade oblong or lanceolate, (0.9-)1.5-4(-5.5) cm × (1.5-)2.5-8(-10) mm, base attenuate, margin entire or denticulate, apex acute. Racemes subumbellate and often without a rachis, not elongated in fruit, ebracteate. Fruiting pedicels erect, (0.7-)1.5-4(-5) cm, slender, narrower than fruit, straight. Sepals oblong-linear, 7-10 mm, caducous, lateral pair saccate. Petals yellow, broadly obovate or spatulate, (1.5-)1.7-2.1(-2.3) cm × (4-)5-8 mm; claw longer than sepals. Filaments 6-8 mm; anthers oblong, 1.5-2 mm. Ovules 12-24 per ovary. Fruit linear or rarely linear-oblong, slightly 4-angled, (1.5-)2.5-4.5(-5.5) cm × 2-3.5 mm, not torulose, slightly curved; valves not keeled, with a distinct midvein, outside with malpighiaceous trichomes, inside glabrous; gynophore 0.5-3 mm; style 0.7-2 mm; stigma capitate, slightly 2-lobed. Seeds oblong, 2.5-3.5 × 1-2 mm, on filiform funicles to 7 mm. Fl. May-Jul, fr. Jul-Oct.

* Alpine scree and gravel, mountain slopes; 4100-4800 m. Sichuan.