阿西棘豆 a xi ji dou

Herbs, (1-)3-8 cm tall, acaulescent, from a multiheaded caudex, cushion- or mat-forming, white. Stipules with an ovate-triangular distinct part, membranous, basal half adnate to peti­ole, basally connate, margin ciliate. Leaves 2-5 cm, 9-15-folio­late; petiole and rachis with appressed trichomes; petiole persis­tent; leaflet blades ovate to lanceolate, 5-8 × 2-3 mm, both sur­faces with appressed trichomes. Racemes compact, 1- or 2- or 5-7-flowered or more; peduncle shorter than to as long as leaves, thick, with semispreading trichomes intermixed with black trichomes; bracts oblong-ovate, 1-1.4 cm, with white and black trichomes. Calyx usually purple, cylindric, (1-)1.2-1.6 cm, inflated after anthesis, with spreading black and white cot­tonlike trichomes; lobes linear, 3-4 mm. Corolla purple; stan­dard (1.8-)2.2-2.6 cm, lamina oblong-spatulate, apex emargi­nate; wings (1.8-)1.9-2.1 cm, apex slightly emarginate; keel 1.7-1.8 cm, beak 1.5-2 mm. Legume sessile, ovoid, 2-2.7 × 1-1.5 cm, membranous, appressed white lanate, septum 2-3 mm wide, adaxial suture grooved, beak 5-7 mm. Fl. Jun-Aug, fr. Jul-Sep.

Dry slopes, grasslands, gravelly alpine areas; 2200-5300 m. Xinjiang, Xizang [Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan].