球状马先蒿 qiu zhuang ma xian hao

Herbs annual, to 33 cm tall. Stems erect, often branching basally, sometimes branched at middle and apically; branches alternate or sometimes pseudo-opposite, whitish pubescent. Basal leaves withering early. Stem leaves alternate, widely spaced; petiole to more than 3 cm basally; leaf blade oblong to ovate-oblong, usually longer than petiole, to 4 X 2.2 cm, sparsely whitish pubescent and scurfy on both surfaces, pinnatipartite to pinnatisect; segments 5--9 pairs, oblong or triangular-ovate to obliquely triangular-ovate, triangular-dentate. Inflorescences subcapitate-racemose; proximal bracts leaflike. Pedicel 3--4 mm, pubescent. Calyx obliquely funnelform-campanulate, whitish villous, ca. 2/3 cleft anteriorly; tube 5--6 mm; lobes 5, leaflike, whitish pubescent internally. Corolla whitish yellow, with purple galea, ca. 1.8 cm; tube erect, longer than calyx; galea falcate, whitish villous, inconspicuously crested; beak filiform, ca. 5 mm, bent downward; lower lip ca. 8 mm X 1.2 cm, ciliate, middle lobe obovate. 2 filaments pubescent, 2 glabrous. Capsule obliquely ovoid, apiculate. Fl. Jul--Aug, fr. Aug--Sep.

Alpine meadows; ca. 3500 m. NW Yunnan [Myanmar].