柔弱蒲公英 rou ruo pu gong ying

Type: China. Gansu: "Kung-tze-tagga in valle Zaluk," ca. 3000 m, 20 Jul 1930, D. Hummel, Exped. S. Hedin 4191 (holotype, S; isotype, S).

Paratypes: China. Qinghai: "Tongde Xian [同德县]. Longmuer Xiuma, between Jungong (Gyumgo) and Hebei on the N side of the Huang He," 3650 m, 22 Jul 1993, Ho Ting-nung, B. Bartholomew & M. Gilbert 174 (CAS, PE, duplicate at HNWP not seen).

Plantae agamospermae delicatae, subtunicatae, foliis profunde pinnatisectis vel pinnatipartitis, lobis lateralibus angustis, patentibus, sigmoideis, subintegris, petiolis purpureis angustis, scapis dense araneosis, phyllariis involucralibus exterioribus numerosis, lanceolatis vel lineari-lanceolatis, laxe adpressis, planis, conspicue albido-marginatis, ligulis luteis, stigmatibus aterrimis, antheris polline carentibus, acheniis superne dense spinulosis, in pyramidem subconicam 0.6-0.8 mm longam subabrupte abeuntibus.

Herbs 10-15 cm tall, base with remnants of old petioles. Petiole purplish, narrow; leaf blade light green, ± oblanceolate, 7-11 × 1.5-2.5 cm, ± sparsely hairy on both surfaces, deeply pinnatisect; lateral lobes in (5 or)6 or 7 pairs, narrowly triangular, 8-19 × 1.2-1.8 mm, ± patent, distal margin entire or with a single tooth at lobe base and straight or ± sigmoid with apical part bent upward; lower lobes often slightly recurved, proximal margin entire and straight; interlobes usually 2-3 × ca. 5 mm, margin ± entire; terminal lobe 1-1.8 × 0.8-1.7 cm, 3-partite, basal segments narrowly lingulate, to 7 mm, and patent, apical segment narrowly lingulate, to 2 mm wide, and apex subacute. Scapes ± equaling leaves, ± densely arachnoid. Capitulum 3.5-4 cm wide. Involucre 0.9-1.1 cm wide, base rounded. Outer phyllaries usually 19-22, ± not imbricate, lanceolate to linear-lanceolate, outermost ones (5-)7-9 × (1.5-)2-3 mm and 2/5-1/2 as long as inner ones, ± loosely appressed, middle part conspicuously colored dark blackish olivaceous and ca. 1 mm wide, with a distinct whitish green 0.5-0.7 mm wide border, margin ± densely ciliate, apex ± flat; inner phyllaries 1.1-1.5 cm, apex flat. Ligules yellow; outer ligules ± flat, outside distally striped grayish pink; inner ligules with dark blackish apical teeth. Stigmas ± black. Anthers without pollen. Achene (only unripe available) pale grayish brown (probably later becoming darker or almost blackish), 4-4.5 mm; body densely spinulose above, subabruptly narrowing into ± subconic 0.6-0.8 mm cone; beak 6-7 mm. Pappus yellowish white, 5-6 mm. Fl. summer. Agamosperm.

● Alpine meadows; 3000-3700 m. Gansu, E Qinghai (Tongde).