Oxytropis leucocephala Ulbrich; O. longipedunculata C. W. Chang; O. thionantha Ulbrich.

Herbs, (12-)15-40(-60) cm tall, caulescent, from a multi­headed caudex. Stems apparently sprawling, with (3 or)4 or 5 conspicuous internodes. Stipules narrowly triangular, ca. 5 × 2 mm, herbaceous, villous with whitish and blackish tri­chomes, basally connate. Leaves (2.5-)4-14(-20) cm, erect, 17-31(-35)-foliolate; leaflet blades lanceolate, elliptic, or ovate, 5-15(-18) × 2-6(-7) mm, glabrescent or sparsely spreading white villous. Racemes 3-15-flowered; peduncle 7-21(-30) cm, erect, ± as long as leaves, glabrescent or sparsely spreading white villous; bracts triangular, 6-7 × ca. 3 mm, membranous, contrasting with petal color, with whitish and blackish tri­chomes. Calyx campanulate, 6.5-11.5 × 2-4 mm, with whitish and blackish trichomes; lobes subulate, 2-8 × ca. 0.5 mm, shorter than to as long as tube. Corolla yellow, pale yellow, or rarely red; standard 1-1.7 cm, lamina ovate, apex emarginate; wings 0.8-1.5 cm, lamina obovate; keel 0.8-1.3 cm, beak 0.2-1 mm. Legume stipitate; stipe 1-1.5 mm; body oblong-ovoid, 8-12 × 3-10.5 mm, inflated, papery. Fl. Jun-Aug, fr. Jul-Sep.

Subalpine or alpine meadows, hillsides, weedy areas, dry forest margins, Picea forests, riverside grasslands, damp areas; 2200-3000 m. Gansu, Qinghai, Sichuan, Xizang [Nepal].