Aphragmus oxycarpus - Ladakh Rock-Cress

Ladakh Rock-Cress is a small perennial herb, branched from the base, 2-8 cm tall, somewhat erect or ascending to spreading, often sparsely hairy with simple hairs below and hairless above. Basal leaves are spoon-shaped to oblong, in rosette, 1.0-2.5 cm long, 2-5 mm broad, stalked. Stem leaves are few to many, distant, oblong-elliptic to oblong-linear, 0.6-1.2 cm long, 2-4 mm broad, stalkless. Upper ones are usually bearing flowers in their axils. All leaves are entire, hairless, somewhat fleshy. Flower racemes are 5-12-flowered, lax, bracteate at least below, up to 5 cm long in fruit. Flowers are about 3-4 mm across, white, pinkish or pale lilac. Flower-stalks are 4-6 mm long in fruit, thin, suberect or ascending. Sepals are. 2 mm long. Petals are about 4 mm long, about 1.5 mm broad. Stamens are 2-3 mm long. Siliculae are sublanceolate to elliptic, flattened, subcompressed, 6-10 mm long, 1.5-2 mm broad, pointed. Ladakh Rock-Cress is found in C. Asia, Afghanistan, Himalayas, from Kashmir to Bhutan, Tibet, W. China, at altitudes of 3600-5800 m. Flowering: June-July.