Flowering and fruiting from July to September.
Bupleurum gracillimum is close relative of Bupleurum condensatum, but differs from the latter in its basal leaves few (vs. numerous), not rosette-caespitose (vs. rosette-caespitose), rays ca. 3 (vs. 4-7), 0.5–1.7 cm (vs. 3-6 cm), petals yellow or dark purple (vs. yellow or yellow-green).
Bupleurum gracillimum is occurring Sichuan, Xizang of China, Bhutan, Kashmir, N Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan.
Plants 6-40 cm tall, perennial. Taproot slender. Stems numerous, caespitose, decumbent, slender, branching at base, yellow or tinged pink, base without fibrous remnant sheaths. Leaves sessile; blades linear, 1-6 cm long, 0.2-0.6 cm wide, 7-11-nerved, gray-green, base slightly dilated, almost clasping, apex acuminate. Middle leaves shorter and broader, lanceolate, thinly 15-20-nerved. Umbels 1-3 cm diameter; bracts 3-4, ovate or elliptic, 4-9 mm long, 2-4 mm wide, unequal; rays 3, 0.5-2 cm, rather thick, unequal; bracteoles 3-5, ovate or lanceolate, 1.5-5 mm long, 0.8-2.5 mm wide, very unequal; umbellules ca. 5 mm across, 3-8-flowered, only 2-3 flowers develop into fruit; pedicels ca. 1 mm long. Petals yellow or dark purple. Stylopodium low-conic, dark yellow or purplish. Fruit ellipsoid or long-ovoid, brown, 3.5-4.5 mm long, 2-2.3 mm wide, apex slightly narrow; ribs pale yellow, rounded; vittae 4-5 in each furrow, 4 on commissure.
Growing in alpine meadows, streamsides; 3200-4500 m.
