天山黄堇 tian shan huang jin

Herbs, perennial, at base with pale dry residues of stems and petioles (complete caudex not seen). Stems 11-16 cm (in Jun), sparingly branched, with 2-4 leaves. Lower cauline leaves: petiole 3-6 cm; blade narrowly triangular-ovate in outline, 2.5-5 cm, bipinnate with 2(or 3) pairs of lateral leaflets; leaflets stalked; blade ca. 1 × 1 cm, once to twice ternately divided, with oblong-obovate, obtuse lobes 2-4 × 1-3 mm. Basal leaves and upper cauline leaves smaller, with 1 or 2 pairs of lateral leaflets. Raceme 8-12-flowered, lax; bracts lanceolate, ca. 3 mm, much shorter than 7-12 mm pedicels, apex acuminate. Flowers yellow. Sepals ovate, 2-3 mm, margin finely dentate, apex acute. Outer petals narrow, slightly mucronate, ecristate; upper petal 14-15 mm, with comparatively long, slender spur ca. 6 mm; nectary extended through ca. 3/4 of spur. Stigma: see section description. Fruit and seed unknown. Fl. Jun-Aug.

● Rocky places; ca. 1900 m. Xinjiang.