Eritrichium pauciflorum (Ledeb.) de Candolle

Herbs perennial, 10-30 cm tall, densely gray sericeous. Stems several, base short branched with basally persistent withered leaves, frequently forming a dense cluster. Basal leaves spatulate to spatulate-oblanceolate, 3-6 cm × 2-5 mm, base attenuate becoming stipelike, apex acute to obtuse; stem leaves narrowly oblanceolate to linear, 1-2 cm × 2-4 mm. Inflorescences terminal and extra-axillary, 1-2 cm, to 6 cm after anthesis, with 2-4 branches, each branch several to numerous flowered; bracts linear-lanceolate, 3-9 mm. Pedicel erect to slightly ascending, 3-5 mm, short appressed pubescent. Calyx lobes erect at anthesis, spreading in fruit, linear to oblanceolate, ca. 3.5 mm, apex acute to obtuse. Corolla blue, campanulate-rotate; tube ca. 2 mm; appendages lunate to low trapeziform, short pilose, surpassing throat, with a papillate emergence below; limb 6.5-8 mm wide; lobes elliptic to orbicular, ca. 4 mm. Anthers elliptic. Nutlets turbinate, ca. 2 × 1 mm, tuberculate and pubescent, abaxially flat or slightly convex; marginal glochids triangular, sometimes not barbed; attachment scar at base, broadly ovate. Fl. and fr. Jul-Aug.

Gansu, Hebei, Nei Mongol, Ningxia, Shanxi [Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Russia].

Rocky slopes, gravelly areas, roadsides; 1400-2000 m.

Myosotis pauciflora Ledebour, Mem. Acad. Imp. Sci. Saint Petersbourg Hist. Acad. 5: 517. 1812; Eritrichium altaicum Popov; E. pulviniforme Popov; E. rupestre (Pallas ex Georgi) Bunge; E. subrupestre Popov; M. rupestris Pallas ex Georgi.