Rochelia rectipes Stocks

Characterized by the enlarged erect calyx lobes. Bunge described the calyx of this species as bigibbous at the base, which I have not seen in our specimens. Found in stony gravelly places from 1600–2400 m.

Slender erect annual 5-8 cm tall, usually with erect-spreading branches from below. Basal leaves 5-10 x 4-6 mm, oblong to oblanceolate; upper leaves lanceolate, less than 10 mm long; both surfaces covered with stiff hairs. Racemes in fruit compact, dense. Calyx lobes 1-2 mm long, densely hairy with stiff and unequal hairs often hooked and pale- yellowish in colour; in fruit 7-8 mm long, erect with tips incurred, midrib prominent at base. Nutlets 2-2.5 mm long, ovoid, tuberculate; tubercles with stellate-like apex. Style c. 1 mm long.

Herbs annual, 2-5 cm. Branches spreading, grayish. Leaves mainly in lower part of stem, resembling a rosette, withering in fruit, oblong, 0.5-1.5 cm. Upper leaves linear, spreading bristly, apex obtuse. Inflorescences dense, short; peduncle straight, 2-10 mm, thin; bracts linear, small. Calyx campanulate, very small, 1-1.5 mm, densely bristly, elongated to 5-7 mm in fruit; lobes free, straight, lanceolate, with sharply protruding midvein, apex slightly curved. Corolla blue, very small. Nutlets ovoid-oblong, 2-2.5 mm, with dense tubercles apically anchorlike. Fl. May-Jun, fr. Jul.

Distribution: Iran, Afghanistan, Soviet C. Asia, Pakistan, east ward to Ladak.

Fl. Per.: April-May.

Stony slopes, gravel. NW Xizang [Afghanistan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan].

Rochelia macrocalyx Bunge.