Peter C. Hoch and Peter H. Raven

Clumped low-growing perennial, forming thick fleshy extended turions that leave persistent brown scales at stem base; stems 5-30 cm tall, simple, glabrous below the inflorescence except for strigillose raised lines decurrent from the margins of the petioles, sparsely strigillose above. Leaves narrow elliptic 1-4.8 x 0.6-1.7 cm, subequal to the internodes, barely strigillose on margins and veins, rather fleshy, margins scarcely denticulate, subacuminate, the base subobtuse, petioles 1-4 mm long. Inflorescence erect or slightly nodding, sparsely pubescent. Ovaries 2-2.5 cm long, subequal to the subtending bracts. Sepals 3.5-5 mm long, acute, subglabrous. Petals 6-7.5 mm long, notched, obcordate, rose purple. Style 2-2.5 mm long. Stigma broadly capitate, usually surrounded by the anthers at anthesis. Capsules 3-4.3 cm long, on pedicels 0.1-0.3 cm long. Seeds 1.1-1.4 x 0.48-0.52 mm, obovoid, very fine papillose, inconspicuous chalazal collar 0.02-0.04 mm long; coma 5-6 mm white, easily detaching.

Type: Baltistan, Sokha Glacier, right bank (ca. 35°50' N., 76°05' E.), 4550 m, moist rocks, 21.8.1939, Scott Russell 1606 (BM).

Distribution: Western Himalayas in Baltistan and Kashmir.

An apparently rare subalpine species, E. glaciale is similar in overall aspect to E. laxum, but is smaller with subentire narrowly elliptic leaves. Fertile seeds are very rare on these collections, but are clearly fine papillose, not "laevia" as noted by Raven in his description of the species. Fl. Per.: Jul-Aug. Fr. Per.: Jul-Aug.