Androsace staintonii Y. Nasir

It is distinguished from the species of the section by its subglabrous vegetative parts which contrast with the dense villous inflorescence. Stainton’s plant from the Chumarkhan Pass is almost escapose and with fewer flowers per scape; otherwise it agrees in other respects with Androsace staintonii.

Planta ± laxe caespitosa. Foliorum rosulae 7-8 mm latae, subglobosae. Folia exteriora 4.6-5 x 1.5-1.8 mm, late lanceolata, siccitate brunnea vel subgrisea, carinata, obtusa, basi lata; folia interiora 3-4.2 x 1 mm, lanceolata, pilis albis vix 1 mm longis, marginem folii versus patentibus apicem versus adpressis. Scapus (5-) 14 mm longus, 3-5 (-6)-florus, pilis usque 1.1 mm longis, vestitus. Inflorescentia dense villosa, compacta. Bractea 4-5 mm longa, lanceolata. Pedicellus bractea brevior vel sublongior vel ei aequilongus. Flores albi, oculo flavo. Calyx c. 3 mm longus, in lobos obtusos usque dimidium divisus, dense villosus. Corolla annulata, limbo 6 mm lato, lobis obtusis vel leviter lobatis. Fructus non visus.

Plant ± loose caespitose. Leaf rosettes 7-8 mm broad, subglobose. Outer leaves 4.6-5 x 1.5-1.8 mm, broad lanceolate, brown to greyish in dried state, carinate, obtuse, base broad; inner leaves 3-4.2 x 1 mm, lanceolate, hairs white, less than 1 mm long on the leaves, spreading towards the margin and appressed towards the apex. Scape (5-) 14 mm long, 3-5 (-6)-flowered. Inflorescence dense-villous, compact, with hairs up to 1.1 mm long on the scape. Bract 4-5 mm long, lanceolate. Pedicel less than, equal or slightly more than the bract in length. Flowers white with a yellow eye. Calyx c. 3 mm long, 1/3 rd cleft in to obtuse, lobes, dense villous. Corolla annulate: limb 6 mm broad, lobes obtuse to slightly lobed. Fruit not seen.

Distribution: Chitral, Hindukush.

Fl. Per.: June.