Muqarrab Shah

Perennial, ascending herb. Rootstock divided, lower thick and woody. Stem ascending and curved, up to 15-30 cm long, minutely tomentose, hairs few, thin, spreading. Leaf digitately fine lobed, petiole 5-7 cm, hairs villous, tomentose. Stipules at the base auriculate, ovate-lanceolate, membranous, brown, stipules on the stem ovate, green. Leaflets 1-2 x 0.6 x 1.4 cm, obovate-cuneate with 8-13 obtuse teeth, sparsely tomentose above, with long hairs, on the lower side tomentose with long greyish hairs. Flowers terminally aggregate, 1.5-1.8 cm in diameter, pedicel 5-6 mm densely tomentose. Calyx subequal, sericeous, externally oblong-obtuse, internally ovatoacute. Petal golden yellow, 9-11 mm long. Stamens c. 20. Carpels many. Style 0.9-1 mm, small, thick at the base, non-papillose.

Holotype: Gilgit Agency, deux versants de l'Ishkuman Aghost, 4210-4540 m, F. Schmid 2439 (G) Iso (RAW).

A-8 Gilgit agency, Chhantar Gah, 3,600 m, F. Schmid 2120 (G).

Distribution: Pakistan – endemic.

The species appears to be a hybrid between Potentilla desertorum (section Rivales) x Potentilla sino-nivea (section Niveae). It resembles Potentilla desertorum in its pentafoliolate leaves and obtusely toothed obovate-cuneate leaflets. The length and shape of the sepals is also identical with Potentilla desertorum. Potentilla gilgitica, however, differs from Potentilla desertorum in the indumentum of the stem, petioles and leaflet surface which is tomentose with thin villose generally eglandulose hairs, the styles are slightly thickened at the base and not papillose. Potentilla desertorum has thick pilose hairs with large red glands on the stem and leaflet surfaces and the styles are very much thickened and strongly papillose at the base. Tomentose stems and leaflet surfaces suggest the participation of Potentilla sino-nivea as the other possible parent which is characterized by niveo-tomentose stems and leaflets.