Cochlearia himalaica J. D. Hooker & Thomson, J. Proc. Linn. Soc., Bot. 5:154. 1861.

Herbs (2-)5-10(-15) cm tall, glabrous throughout except for fruit and calyx. Root narrowly fusiform-linear, fleshy, apex with minute scalelike leaves. Stems solitary from fleshy root then producing a rosette with prostrate or rarely ascending to erect branches. Leaves not rosulate; petioles of basal and lowermost cauline leaves (0.5-)1-2.5(-4) cm, gradually shorter upward; leaf blade broadly ovate or oblong, 4-10(-15) × 2-6(-10) mm, gradually reduced in size upward, base obtuse or subcordate, margin lobed, toothed, repand, or entire, apex obtuse or rounded. Racemes densely flowered, elongated considerably or not elongated in fruit, bracteate throughout; bracts leafy, representing all cauline leaves. Fruiting pedicels glabrous, slender, straight or strongly recurved and fruit appearing geocarpic, 4-9(-13) mm. Sepals oblong, 1.2-2 × 0.8-1 mm, persistent, membranous at margin, sparsely pubescent distally. Petals white, obovate or spatulate, 2.5-4(-6) × 1.5-2.5(-3.5) mm, attenuate to base, apex slightly emarginate. Filaments white, 1.5-2 mm, median pairs dilated at base; anthers ovate, 0.2-0.4 mm. Ovules 4-12 per ovary. Fruit ovoid or oblong, latiseptate, not torulose, (2-)4-8(-10) × (1.5-)2-3.4(-4) mm, obtuse at both ends; valves membranous, sparsely puberulent with papillae to 0.5 mm, rarely subglabrous, obscurely veined; replum widely expanded throughout; septum absent; style slender, 0.5-1(-1.2) mm. Seeds (2-)6-8(-12), brown, oblong, 1-1.5 × 0.8-1 mm; cotyledons obliquely accumbent. Fl. Jun-Aug, fr. Jul-Sep.

Rocky grounds on exposed slopes, scree, deep rich soils, muddy slopes, streamsides, sandy beds, moist granite ledges, alpine pastures and dwarf scrub, Kobresia turf, under Juniperus trees; 3600-5200 m. Qinghai, Xizang [Bhutan, India, Nepal].