Mertensia sibirica (L.) G. Don

Rhizomes transversely spreading. Stems usually single, 30-60 cm tall, glabrous, sulcate, only inflorescences branched. Basal leaves petiole to 25 cm; leaf blade ovate to ovate-oblong, to 20 cm, fleshy, glaucous but abaxially with convex dots, base broadly cuneate or somewhat cordate, apex short acuminate; lateral veins arcuate, raised abaxially; stem leaves sessile, elliptic to linear-oblong, 3-7 × 1-1.2 cm, base attenuate, apex acute to acuminate. Cymes usually 2 or 3, terminal, becoming paniculate, 6-8 cm, glabrous, few flowered; rachis curved. Pedicel 2-7 mm, usually secund, slightly recurved. Flowers widely spaced. Calyx campanulate, ca. 5.5 mm, 5-parted nearly to base; lobes narrowly ovate to linear-ovate, apex obtuse. Corolla blue, ca. 1.4 cm; tube ca. 8 × 4.5 mm; throat appendages transverse folds, ca. 0.3 mm, smooth; limb slightly shorter than tube; lobes slightly spreading, broadly ovate, ca. 3.5 mm, margin entire or repand, apex obtuse, veins distinct. Stamens inserted below appendages; filaments strap-shaped, ca. 2.5 mm; anthers linear-oblong, ca. 3 mm, sparsely pubescent, base divergent, apex obtuse. Style filiform, ca. 1.5 cm, exserted ca. 3 mm from corolla; stigma discoid. Nutlets white, subreniform, 4-5 mm, slightly reticulate-wrinkled, glabrous. Fl. Jun-Jul, fr. Aug-Sep. 2n = 24.

Shanxi [Russia].

Hillside meadows; ca. 2500 m.

Pulmonaria sibirica Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 1: 135. 1753; Lithospermum sibiricum (Linnaeus) Lehmann; Steenhammera sibirica (Linnaeus) Turczaninow.