阿拉套大戟 a la tao da ji

Herbs, perennial, (8-)20-50 cm tall, Rootstock woody, to more than 10 cm × 4-8 mm thick. Stems many from base, ca. 3 mm thick, upper parts undivided, often reddish, often white pilose. Leaves alternate, broader toward apex; stipules absent; petiole absent; leaf blade ovate-elliptic, (1-)2-3(-3.5) × 0.8-1 cm, ± villous, base rounded, margin finely serrulate, sometimes inconspicuous, apex acuminate; lateral veins inconspicuous. Inflorescence a terminal pseudumbel, sometimes with additional cymes from upper axils; primary involucral leaves (3 or)4(-8), often flushed reddish purple, triangular-ovate, ca. 1.3 × 0.8-1 cm, base attenuate, apex rounded, primary rays usually 4, ca. 2(-3.5) cm; cyathophylls 3, obovate, 4-6 × 4-6 mm. Cyathium sessile; involucre cuplike, ca. 2 × 2 mm, lobes ovate-orbicular, glabrous; glands 4, brown-yellow, transversely elliptic-orbicular. Male flowers many, slightly exserted from involucre. Female flower: ovary [pedicel short] exserted from involucre; ovary tuberculate, glabrous; styles free; style arms slightly 2-lobed. Capsule globose, 2.5-3.5 × 3.5-4.5 mm, sparsely tuberculate, glabrous. Seeds ovoid-globose, 1.5-2 mm, shiny dark brown; caruncle present, shortly stipitate. Fl. Jun-Aug.

Steppes, sparse forests in mountains. Xinjiang (Ili He valley) [Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan].