Polygonum nummularifolium Meisn. in DC. Prodr. 14: 127. 1856; Hook. f., Fl. Brit. Ind. 5: 53. 1886; Steward in Contr. Gray Herb. 88: 102. 1930; R. R. Stewart, Ann. Cat. Vasc. Pl. W. Pak. & Kashm. 207. 1972.

A dwarf trailing perennial (?) herb, 2-5 cm tall, forming small tufts, usually rooting at nodes, bearing sparsely appressed pilose hairs, more on the nodes, internodes usually short. Leaves fleshy becoming brown when dry, petiole 2-7 (-10) mm long, lamina orbicular, obtuse, sparsely hairy at the margins and beneath, 5-10 (-15) x 3-7 mm, sometimes black dotted dorsally; ochreae ± tubular, brownish, hyaline, 2-4 mm long, sparsely hairy, ± truncate. Flowers in terminal corymbs, 10-14 in each corymb, white or bright pink, pedicel 1.5-2 mm long, jointed, bracts hyaline, brownish, almost enclosing more than half of the pedicel. Perianth 5-partite, divided almost up to the base, tepals ± orbicular to ovate or obtuse, in two whorls, 1.5-1.75 x 0.5-0.75 mm. Stamens 5, very short, alternating with 3 distinct but disc-like glandular staminodes. Ovary orbicular or biconvex, styles 2, very short, stigmas capitate. Nuts 1.5 mm, biconvex or somewhat orbicular, granulate, shining.

Fl. Per.: July-September.

Type: In Kumaon, alt. 14500 ped. Strachey and Winterbottom 43. Isotype (K!).

This is the smallest species of the genus Koenigia in our region; grows in alpine Himalayas between 4000-5500 m on rocks. Seems to be undercollected, probably overlooked due to its small size; Distribution: Alpine Himalayas, Kashmir to Sikkim.