Muqarrab Shah

Perennial, ascending herb. Rootstock divided, covered with brownish scale leaves. Stem ascending 4-8 cm long, minutely tomentose or pilose. Leaves frequently based, subdigitate, peteol long, filiform, 9-18 cm, minutely pilose-tomentose. Basal stipules membranous, reddish-dark brown, auriculate, linear-lanceolate, upper stipules oblong-ovate, entire or 3-4-dentate, foliaceous. Leaflets divided up to or near the midrib, 2-5x1-2.5 cm, minutely tomentose and sericeous above, lobes variable in size and shape, oblong-obovate or oblong-elliptic, obtuse, 5-15x3-4.5 mm. Flowers 1-1.4 cm, in diam. Calyx densely sericeous, outer sepals oblong, obtuse, inner ovate, obtuse. Petals 5-6 mm, long, pale-yellow. Stamens c.20. Carpels numerous. Styles short, 1 0.9-1 mm, subterminal, thickened and papillose near the base.

Holotype: Pakistan, Baltistan, Deosai Plains to Usi Mar, c. 13,000 ft, R.R. Stewart 20103 (RAW).

B-8 Kashmir, Pensi La, Zaskar, ± 5,000 ft, W. Koelz 5926 (B, US, MICH).

Distribution: Pakistan and Kashmir.

Potentilla grandiloba M. Shah & Wilcock is characterized by its long, filiform petioles, long and broad leaflet lobes. Stem petioles and upper surface of leaflets have minute tomentose hairs together with pilose hairs and styles which are thickened and papillose at the base. The species seems to be hybrid between Potentilla virgata (section Terminales) and Potentilla grisea (section Niveae). It resembles Potentilla virgata Lehm. in its pentafoliolate leaves and tomentose lower surface of the leaflets. Potentilla virgata, however, differs in h aving shorter and narrower leaflet lobes, petioles and upper surface of leaflets with pilose hairs only and claviform short styles. Potentilla grandiloba resembles Potentilla grisea in its indumentum.