Androsace flavescens Maxim.

The species has been reportedly collected from the Hunza and Bukshel valleys (R.R. Stewart, 1972).

Related to Androsace studiosorum but differs in being less robust and with yellow flowers. Martelli (Rivista Monografica del genere Androsace, 1890), considers the species as synonymous with Androsace sarmentosa. It differs from that species in the yellow flowers and absence of brown indument.

A lax caespitose, stoloniferous perennial. Stolons 25-40 x 1-1.5 mm, reddish-brown, glabrescent. Leaves pale green to green, in rosettes, dimorphic; outer leaves 3-4.5 x 2.5-3.5 mm, oblong-obovate to obovate, obtuse, inner ones longer, 9-14.5 x 2-5 mm, oblanceolate to broad lanceolate, obtuse to subacute. Scape 17-47 x 1-1.5 mm, sparse pubescent-glandulose, villous so at the base of the umbel, 6-8-flowered. Bracts 6-7 x 2-3 mm, leafy, obovate, glandular-villous. Pedicels shorter than the bracts, up to 5 mm long, subequal, glandular-pubescent. Calyx 2.5-2.8 mm long, cupular, 1/3 rd cleft, glandular-villous; lobes obtuse, villous. Corolla tube c. equal to calyx in length; limb 7.5-9 mm broad; lobes c. 3 mm long, obovate, entire, throat barely annulate. Anthers subsessile, ovate, c. 0.8 mm. Ovary globose-depressed, style 1 mm long, stigma capitate. Capsule more or less included in the calyx, ovaloid, valves obtuse. Seeds not seen.

Herbs perennial, laxly cespitose. Shoots usually 3 or 4, arising from leaf rosettes of current year, 1--2 cm, sparsely pilose near apex, glabrous proximally. Leaves obscurely dimorphic. Outer leaves sessile, ligulate-oblanceolate, 5--10 X 1.5--3 mm, densely hirsute on distal 1/2, base attenuate, apex obtuse. Petiole of inner leaves obsolescent to 1/3 as long as leaf blade; leaf blade oblanceolate, 2--3(--5) X 2.5--4 cm, abaxially sparsely hirsute, adaxially glabrescent, base attenuate, margin with long spreading hairs, apex obtuse to subrounded. Scapes 1--3 in each rosette, 2--7 cm, pilose; umbels 6--10-flowered, densely grayish white villous; bracts ligulate-oblong, leaflike, 5--7 X ca. 2 mm, base slightly gibbous, apex obtuse. Pedicel 1--3 mm. Calyx ca. 3 mm, parted to middle; lobes narrowly ovate, apex obtuse. Corolla pale yellow, 6--9 mm in diam.; lobes broadly obovate, margin slightly undulate. Fl. Jun.

Distribution: Karakorams and N.W. Tibet.

S Xinjiang (N flank of Kunlun) [Kashmir?]

* In shaded rock crevices, near water in ravines; 2900--3700 m.