拟多刺绿绒蒿 ni duo ci lü rong hao

Herbs, monocarpic, to 10 cm tall in flower, throughout with fulvous firm and spreading spines. Taproot long, ca. 5 mm in diam. at top. Leaves all basal; petiole 1.5-2 cm, winged, basally ampliate; blade glaucous abaxially, green adaxially, ovate to narrowly ovate, 1.5-2.5 × 0.7-1 cm, both surfaces with fulvous firm spines, abaxially veins obvious, base cuneate, decurrent to petiole, margin pinnately lobed, apex rounded or obtuse; lobes ca. 3 pairs. Scapes several, 5-9 cm, stout, with fulvous firm spreading bristles, dense especially at top. Flowers solitary on scape; buds spheroidal. Sepals adaxially bristly. Petals pale blue, broadly obovate, ca. 1.7 × 1.3 cm. Filaments of same color as petals, filiform, 5-7 mm; anthers orange, orbicular to oblong, ca. 0.5 mm. Ovary ovoid, 0.8-1.3 cm × 5-8 mm, with fulvous bristles; styles 2-3 mm; stigmas capitate. Fruit not seen.

● Mountain regions; ca. 4700 m. SE Xizang (Nyingchi).

One of us (Grey-Wilson) has not seen authenticated material of this taxon and so is unable to comment on its status.