A. RADCLIFFE-SMITH

An erect glabrous or sparingly pubescent perennial herb up to 20 cm tall, although commonly 10-15 cm tall. Stem-leaves alternate, sessile; leaf-blades elliptic, 1-2 cm x 4-8 mm, subacute or obtuse at the apex, cuneate or rounded at the base, entire, subentire or rarely minutely denticulate. Pseudumbels (3-) 5-rayed, the rays tend, with usually only 1 axillary ray below the pseudumbel; pseudumbel leaves 3-5, whorled, resembling the upper stem-leaves; ray-leaves in 3’s, whorled, broadly ovate to rhombic, 4-8 x 4-8 mm, obtuse or rounded at the apex, cuneate to truncate at the base. Cyathia sessile. Glands transversely elliptic, rounded on the outer edge. Fruit roundly trilobate-subglobose, 3 x 3.5 mm with the backs of the lobes covered with hemispherical to conical reddish warts, otherwise smooth and yellowish-green, glabrous. Styles erect, united to half-way, 1 mm long, shortly bifsd, the stigmas swollen. Seeds ovoid, 2 x 1.7 x 1.5 mm, granulate, greyish, with a depressed caruncle.

Fl. Per.: June - July. Fr. Per.: July - August.

Holotype: Kashmir, Punch/Muzaffarabad, Pir Panjal Range, Apr.-May 1831, V. Jacquemont 558 (P).

Distribution: Endemic to Kashmir and Baltistan. On grassy margs and birch. woods; 12000'/0660 m. - 14000'/4270 m.

This may simply be a high-altitude form of the comigera/cognata complex.