YASIN J. NASIR

Perennial, 32 cm or more tall. Lower cauline leaves 120-150 x 10-13 mm, lanceolate, with stout appressed hairs, c. 0.5 mm long, some arising from a tuberculate base. Upper cauline leaves similar but smaller. Flowers in short terminal racemes up to 11 cm long. Calyx c. 4.5 mm long; lobes oblanceolate. Corolla 12-13 mm long, limb ± equalling tube; throat scales oblong, 4 mm long, minutely ciliate, situated above the anthers. Anthers linear-oblong, 3 mm long; filaments short, dilated towards base. Nutlets winged, glochidiate.

Fl. Per.: July-August.

Type: Pakistan: Hunza, Karakoram: Naltar Tal, 2600 m, 10.8.1983, A. Bruhn s.n. (Hb. Podlech).

Distribution: Karakorams.

According to the authors the species is related to the afghan Mattiastrum dielsii Bornm., but differing in the indumentum, the longer corolla limb, oblong throat scales of corolla and distinctly dentate margin of nutlets.

It is interesting to note that at present no large flowered Mattiastrum has been recorded from the Pakistan Himalaya. In this respect and in the habit, indumentum, throat scales, anther size etc., Mattiastrum howardii bears a marked resemblance to Lindelofia anchusoides, which incidentially is quite common in the Himalaya and has also been collected from the type locality of Mattiastrum howardii (Naltar, Gilgit). Except for the relatively ± broad margined nutlet, there would be no justification in considering the above mentioned species (i.e. Mattiastrum howardii) under Mattiastrum.

It is possible that Mattiastrum howardii might represent an intermediate stage between Lindelofia and Mattiastrum or simply that the former might exhibit some form of fruit dimorphism such as that observed in other genera as Rochelia, Lepechiniella and Heterocaryum etc. More collection especially in fruit is desirable to verify this.