Stellaria graminea Linnaeus var. brachypetala (Bunge) Regel.

Herbs perennial. Stems erect, sometimes diffuse, 10--30 cm tall, basally branched. Leaves sessile, ovate-lanceolate to lanceolate, 1--2 cm × 1.5--4 mm, both surfaces glabrous, base cuneate, apex acuminate, axillary sterile branches from proximal leaves sometimes present. Flowers 1--3, sometimes 6--10, in cymes; bracts herbaceous, margin membranous. Pedicel ca. 1 cm. Sepals 5, ovate-lanceolate, 5--8 × 1--2 mm, margin membranous, apex acuminate. Petals 5, 1/2--2/3 as long as sepals, 2-cleft nearly to base; lobes linear. Stamens 10; filaments short. Ovary ovoid; styles 3. Capsule ovoid-orbicular, 5--7 mm. Seeds orbicular-ovoid, rugulose. Fl. Jun--Aug, fr. Aug--Sep.

Kozhevnikov described Stellaria brachypetala var. magna (Novosti. Sist. Vyssh. Rast. 20: 106. 1983) based on a specimen from the Tian Shan region of Xinjiang. It was described as being more robust (stems to 25 cm), with the pedicels spreading in fruit. The present authors have seen no material of this taxon and do not know if it warrants recognition.

Mountains; 1700--2900(--4300) m. Gansu, Nei Mongol, Qinghai, Xinjiang [Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Russia].