Saxifraga stenophylla - Ladakh Saxifrage

Ladakh Saxifrage is a perennial herb 5-17.5 cm tall, densely glandular hairy, characterized by basal leaves aggregated into a rosette, and yellow flowers having petals more than twice as long as the sepals. Flowers are borne in 1.5-3 cm clusters which are 2-3-flowered. Flower-stalks are 0.6-1.4 cm, densely glandular hairy. Petals are yellow, obovate to broadly so or elliptic, 0.8-1.2 cm x 4.5-7.5 mm, 8-11-veined, clawless, tip blunt. Stamens are 4-5.7 mm. Sepals erect, ovate to lanceshaped, 4-6.2 x 1.2-2.8 mm, subcarnose, below and on margins dark brown glandular hairy, hairless above or rarely sparsely glandular hairy, veins 5-9, partly or fully confluent at tip, tip usually mucronate. Basal leaves are narrowly elliptic to subspatulate, somewhat convex below, concave above, 0.8-1.3 cm x 2-4.5 mm, leathery, both surfaces glandular velvety, margin glandular hairy, tip pointed, glandular. Stem leaves are widely separated, 5.5-11 x 1.5-3 mm, leathery, both surfaces glandular hairy, margin glandular ciliate, apex glandular. Ladakh Saxifrage is found in the Himalayas, from Pakistan to Sikkim, Tajakistan, at altitudes of 3600-5000 m. It is common in Ladakh and Lahaul. Flowering:: July-August.