肉苁蓉 rou cong rong

Herbs 0.4-1.6 m tall. Stems unbranched or 2-4-branched, 2-10 cm in diam. Leaves on lower part of stem ovate or triangular-ovate, 0.5-1.5 X 1-2 cm; leaves on upper part lanceolate or linear-lanceolate, 2-4 cm X 5-10 mm, glabrous. Inflorescences spicate, 15-50 cm; bract subequalling corolla, ovate-lanceolate or lanceolate, along with bractlets and corolla sparsely pubescent abaxially; bractlets ovate-lanceolate or lanceolate, subequalling calyx. Calyx campanulate, 1-1.5 cm; lobes 5, ca. 2.5 X 3-5 mm. Corolla pale yellow-white or pale purple, becoming brown when dry, tubular-campanulate, 3-4 cm, apex 5-lobed; lobes 4-6 X 6-10 mm. Filaments 1.5-2.5 cm, base villous; anthers long ovoid, 3.5-4.5 mm, densely villous, base mucronate. Ovary ellipsoid, ca. 1 cm. Style glabrous, usually persistent; stigma subglobose. Capsule ovoid-globose, 1.5-2.7 X 1.3-1.4 cm. Seeds ellipsoid or ovoid, 0.6-1 mm. Fl. May-Jun, fr. Jun-Aug. 2n = 40*.

Sandy places; 200-1200 m. Gansu, Nei Mongol, Ningxia, Xinjiang [Mongolia].