Rochelia cardiosepala Bunge

Easily recognised by the fruiting calyx which is much enlarged with cordate-auriculate sepals. Found in stony and weedy places from 1400-2000 m.

Annual from 5-30 cm tall. Stem branched from the base or above. Stem and branches appressed hairy. Basal and lower cauline leaves oblanceolate, 15-70 x 4-8 mm, both surfaces covered with suberect hairs arising from a tuberculate base. Upper cauline leaves similar but smaller. Pedicels c. 2 mm long, hairy, up to 7 mm long and recurved in fruit. Calyx lobes 2-2.5 mm long, lanceolate, up to 6 mm and cordate, ± auriculate at base, nervose and with a prominent midrib. Nutlets 3-4 mm long, greyish, papillose. Style barely exserted from nutlets.

Herbs annual, 10-40 cm, grayish green, appressed or spreading bristly. Stems branching from middle. Basal leaves few, oblong-elliptic, withering early; stem leaves linear-spatulate, 1-4 cm × 2-5 mm, long tapering at base. Inflorescences loose. Pedicel to 5-7 mm in fruit. Calyx lobes linear, small, 5-8 mm, elongated in fruit, wide, base triangular-deltate and cordate; midvein very thick, lateral veins prominent, forming a network. Corolla blue, very small, ca. 2.5 mm. Nutlets completely hidden in closed calyx, 3-4 mm, with dense tubercles minutely stellate at apex. Fl. Jun, fr. Jul.

Distribution: Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Caucasus, Soviet C. Asia, Pakistan, Kashmir.

Fl. Per.: April-June.

Slopes. Weed in NW Xizang [Afghanistan, Kashmir, Kazakh-stan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uz-bekistan; SW Asia].

Rochelia cardiosepala là loài thực vật có hoa trong họ Mồ hôi. Loài này được Bunge miêu tả khoa học đầu tiên năm 1851.