Saxifraga sphaeradena H. Sm.

Herbs perennial, cespitose, 10-17 cm tall. Stem glabrous proximally, shortly dark brown glandular hairy distally. Basal leaves with petiole 2-5 cm, brown pilose at margin; leaf blade cordate-ovate, (1-)2.1-3.1 × (0.7-)1.6-1.9 cm, glabrous on both surfaces or brown pilose abaxially, base cordate, margin brown pilose, apex acute. Cauline leaves 3-8, sessile, cordate, 1.2-2.2 × 0.5-1.5 cm, glabrous on both surfaces (or proximal leaves brown pilose abaxially, most distal leaf brown glandular pilose adaxially), base cordate, partly amplexicaul, margin glandular pilose on proximal leaves, shortly dark brown glandular hairy on distal leaves. Flower usually solitary, occasionally cyme 2-5-flowered; pedicel shortly glandular hairy. Sepals spreading, ovate, 3-4 × 2.2-3 mm, glabrous on both surfaces or shortly dark brown glandular hairy abaxially, margin shortly dark brown glandular hairy, veins 3-6, confluent into a verruca at apex, apex obtuse. Petals yellow, orange spotted, orbicular to elliptic, 8-10 × 4-7 mm, not callose or subcolumnar 4-callose, ca. 7-veined, base contracted into a claw ca. 2 mm, apex obtuse. Stamens 3.5-4 mm. Ovary subsuperior, globose, 3-4 mm; styles ca. 1.3 mm. Fl. Jul-Sep. 2n = 16.

S Xizang [Nepal, Sikkim].

Forest margins, scrub, rock crevices; 3300-4100 m.