碟果虫实 die guo chong shi

Plants 10-45 cm tall. Stem erect, much branched; branches obliquely spreading. Leaves narrowly elliptic or oblanceolate, 0.2-4.5 × 0.5-1 cm, base attenuate, apex rounded, mucronate. Spikelike inflorescence terete, crowded; bracts lanceolate to broadly ovate, 0.5-1.5 cm × 3-7 mm, base rounded, margin membranous, apex acute, mucronate. Perianth segments 3, upper one broadly ovate, ca. 1 × 1.5 mm, lower segments triangular, smaller. Stamens 5; filaments subulate, equaling or slightly longer than perianth segments. Utricle sublustrous, discoid, 2.6-4 mm, glabrous; wing very narrow, involute; beak obscure. Fl. and fr. Aug-Sep.

Dunes. NW Gansu, W Nei Mongol, Ningxia, Qinghai (Qaidam Pendi) [Mongolia].

This species, the only representative of Corispermum sect. Patellisperma Mosyakin, is probably the most ancient living representative of the genus, showing common characters with hypothetical ancestors of Corispermum, which were morphologically similar to modern species of Anthochlamys Fenzl.