Solms-laubachia himalayensis - Himalayan Christolea

Himalayan Christolea is a perennial herb 4-20 cm tall, nearly hairless or densely hairy throughout. Stems are simple, hairy or hairless. Basal leaves are not fleshy, hairy or hairless, persistent; leaf-stalk 0.4-1.6 cm, not fringed with hairs; leaf blade broadly obovate or spoon-shaped, 4-14 x 3-9 mm, base wedge-shaped or narrowed, margin 3-5-toothed, tip pointed. Stem leaves similar to basal, or linear to lanceshaped, 5-17 x 1-4 mm, often entire, shortly stalked or nearly stalkless. Flowers are borne in 6-25-flowered racmes, bracteate throughout; bracts similar to stem leaves but smaller, sometimes adnate to flower-stalk. Petals are purple or lilac with yellowish center, broadly spoon-shaped, 6.5-8 x 3-4 mm, tip somewhat notched; claw 3-4 mm. Filaments are white, slightly dilated at base, median pairs 3-4 mm, lateral pair 2-4 mm. Sepals are free, oblong, 3-4 x 1.2-1.5 mm, falling off, hairy. Fruit is lanceshaped to lanceshaped-linear, 2-3.5 cm x 4-6 mm, strongly flattened. Himalayan Christolea is found on open hills, sandstone scree, at altitudes of 4300-5700 m, N. Pakistan to Qinghai and Himalaya. Flowering: June-August.