12. Potentilla collettiana Aitch. & Hemsl. in J. Linn. Soc. 18: 53. 1880. Boiss., Fl. Orient. Suppl. (edit. Buser) 233. 1886, Th. Wolf in Bibl. Bot. 71: 95. 1908, Schiman-Czeika in Rech. f., Fl. Iran. 66: 87. 1969, R. R. Stewart, Ann. Catalogue Vasc. Pl. W. Pak. & Kashm. 355. 1972.
Vern.: Majrikon
Muqarrab Shah
Department of Microbiology, Hazara University, Mansehra, Pakistan
Perennial, caespitose herb. Rootstock very much thickened, deep brown, covered with thick, dark brown leaf bases. Basal stem very short, adpressed, brownish, covered with dead leaves. Floral stem short, ascending, 2-8 (-11) cm long, ± naked, 1-3 flowered, densely sericeous. Leaves adpressed together at the base, ternate, petioles 1-2 cm long, flattened, sericeous. Basal stipules adnate nearly to the middle of the petioles with long and linear auricles, densely sericeous, upper stipules ovate. Leaflets coriaceous, 1.4-3.0 x 0.4-0.6 cm, obovate-oblong, tridentate at the top, with acute teeth, densely sericeous above and below. Flowers c. 1 cm diam, pedicel 2-3 cm long, densely sericeous, ± erect after flowering. Calyces subequal, densely hairy, outer narrowly lanceolate acute, inner ovate acute. Petals yellow, 4-5 mm long, obovate, emarginate. Stamens about 20. Receptacle densely sericeous. Carpels many, styles subterminal, filiform, 0.8-1.0 mm long, stigma not dilated. Achenes densely pubescent.
Fl. Per.: July-September
Type: Pakistan, Kuram Valley, Dec. 1879, J.E.T. Aitchison, 728 (BM).
A-7 Chitral Dist., Golen Gol 36 1 N 72 10 E, S. A. Bowes Lyon 74 (BM), C-6 Kurram Valley, Khawas Khilli, 12,000 ft., Harsukh 15313 (K).
Distribution: Endemic to Pakistan and Afghanistan.
A rare species collected between 3 – 3600 m. along the Afghanistan border. All collections from Kashmir reported previously as Potentilla collettiana should be referred to P. curviseta Hook. f. because the plants have adpressed pilose hairs (not sericeous) and bigger petals (nearly twice as long as those of Potentilla collettiana).
