Peter C. Hoch and Peter H. Raven

Epilobium cf. himalayense Wendelbo, Nytt Mag. Bot. 1: 47. 1952. Epilobium cf. stracheyanum Wendelbo, loc. cit. 47. 1952.

Low-growing perennial herb, clumped by formation of small fleshy basal turions from which stems arise very erect; stems erect, branched from the base, 2-20 cm tall, glabrous below with strigillose lines decurrent from the margins of the petioles, sparse strigillose above. Leaves narrow ovate, 1.5-2.5 x 0.4-1.1 cm, crowded on stem and not much reduced in size above, fleshy, glabrous except for few hairs on margins and veins, margin serrulate, apex acute, base rounded, subsessile. Inflorescence erect, strigillose or rarely cinereous, with some scattered gland-tipped hairs. Sepals 2.5-3.2 mm long, acuminate. Petals 3.5-5.5 mm long, obcordate, rose-purple. Style 2-2.5 mm long. Stigma capitate, surrounded by anthers at anthesis. Capsules 3.5-5 cm long, strigillose, on pedicels 0.5-1.5 cm long. Seeds 1-1.2 x 0.34-0.38 mm, narrowly ovoid, papillose, inconspicuous chalazal collar; comas 4-5.5 mm, white, easily deciduous.

Type: Pakistan, Chitral, wet slope above Shokor Shal, Barum Gol (ca. 36°4' N, 71°58'E), 3600 m, 23.7.1950, Wendelbo s.n. (BM, holotype; K, isotype).

Distribution: Western Himalaya from Chitral to Baltistan (Karakoram).

E. chitralense is another of the small alpine species of which we have but few collections. It is quite well distinguished by its turions, small subsessile leaves, and low habit. The specimens examined for this study did not have pedicels "subnullus" as noted in the description, however, but instead have distinct pedicels 0.5-1.5 cm long. Fl. Per,: Jul-Aug. Fr. Per.: Jul-Sep.