灌丛蝇子草 guan cong ying zi cao

Herbs perennial, 10--20 cm. Roots robust, multicrowned. Stems caespitose, suberect, simple, white pubescent; sterile stems numerous. Basal leaves numerous, spatulate to oblanceolate, 3--6 cm × 3--7 mm, both surfaces glabrous, ciliate, midvein obvious, base attenuate into short petiole, apex acute; cauline leaves 2 or 3 pairs, narrowly oblanceolate, pubescent. Flowers in a racemiform thyrse; cymules opposite, 1-flowered, often 3; peduncles very short. Pedicel 1--2.5 cm, slender, villous and sparsely glandular hairy; bracts lanceolate, pubescent. Calyx campanulate or broadly campanulate, 1.5--1.7 cm × 6--8 mm; longitudinal veins usually violet, pubescent. Androgynophore 3--4 mm, shortly hairy. Petal claws oblanceolate, glabrous, auricles orbicular; limbs exserted beyond calyx, violet, bifid to middle; lobes slightly curved, apex obtuse; coronal scales lanceolate. Stamens and styles included, ca. 1 cm; filaments glabrous. Styles 3(or 4). Fl. Aug--Sep.

* Scrub; ca. 4000 m. NW Yunnan.

The type has not been seen by the present authors. Judging from the original description, Silene dumetosa is possibly closely related to, or a synonym of, S. stewartiana, and does not belong to the S. gracilicaulis group.