普兰须弥菊 pu lan xu mi ju

Saussurea abnormis Lipschitz, Bot. Zhurn. (Moscow & Leningrad) 56: 826. 1971; S. neglecta Ludlow.

Herbs 8-15[-30] cm tall, perennial. Stems solitary or several, grayish white, 2-3 mm in diam., erect or ascending, simple, densely arachnoid tomentose. Basal leaves petiolate; petiole 2-3 cm; leaf blade obovate to elliptic, 6-12[-25] × 1.5-5[-8] cm, lyrately pinnately lobed, abaxially grayish white, with conspicuous veins, and densely arachnoid tomentose, adaxially grayish green and arachnoid; lateral lobes 2-6 pairs, elliptic, proximal ones small, apex obtuse to rounded; terminal lobe ovate, margin sinuate or denticulate, apex obtuse to acute. Capitulum solitary, terminal on stems, erect in bud, nodding at anthesis and in fruit. Involucre hemispheric to campanulate, 1.2-2 cm in diam. Phyllaries in 4 or 5 rows, arachnoid tomentose, apex long acuminate; outer phyllaries narrowly ovate-triangular, 8-9 × 1.2-1.5 mm, apically reflexed or erect; middle and inner phyllaries narrowly elliptic to linear, 10-12 × 1-1.5 mm. Receptacle bristles ca. 5 mm. Corolla pink, 1.4-1.7 cm. Achene cylindric, 2-3 mm, apex with a dentate crown. Pappus bristles white, ca. 1 cm. Fl. and fr. Jul.

Alpine scree slopes; 3800-4400 m. S and SW Xizang (Burang, Gyirong) [NW India, W Nepal].