绵刺 mian ci

Shrublets 30–40 cm tall, long sericeous throughout. Stems gray-brown. Stipules 1.5–2 mm; petiole 1–1.5 mm; leaflets ca. 2 × 0.5 mm, base narrowed, margin entire, apex acute. Flowers ca. 3 mm in diam.; pedicel 3–5 mm; bracts ovate, ca. 1 mm. Hypanthium densely sericeous adaxially. Sepals ca. 1.5 mm, apex acute. Petals white or tinged pink, ca. 1.5 mm. Filaments adaxially densely sericeous. Carpel densely sericeous. Achene tinged yellow, ca. 2 mm, hairy, enclosed by persistent sepals. Fl. Jun.–Sep, fr. Aug–Oct.

Gravelly deserts. Nei Mongol [Mongolia].

This species is used for forage.