Arenaria polytrichoides Edgew. ex Edgew. & Hook. fil.

Herbs perennial. Principal roots robust, woody. Stems densely clustered, 2.5--11 cm, forming hemispheric cushions 1--1.5 cm in diam.; branches cylindric, woody at base, with congested, withered, persistent leaves along their length. Leaves imbricate; leaf blade subulate, 5--10 × ca. 1 mm, veins raised abaxially, impressed adaxially, base broadened, clasping, membranous, margin involute distally, thickened, sparsely ciliate near base, apex cuspidate. Flower solitary, terminal, sessile; bracts lanceolate, 2.5--3 × ca. 1 mm, base broadened, clasping, forming a membranous sheath, margin reflexed, hard, apex spinose. Sepals 5, ovate, ovate-elliptic, or broadly elliptic, ca. 3 mm, obscurely 3-veined, base broadened, apex obtuse. Petals 5, white, ovate or broadly obovate, slightly longer than sepals. Floral disc patellate, with 5 dark glands. Stamens 10; filaments ca. 1.5 mm; anthers yellow. Ovary ovoid or obovoid, ca. 1 mm. Styles 3, ca. 1 mm. Capsule ovoid, ca. 1.5 mm, 3-valved; valves 2-cleft at apex. Seeds ellipsoid, black-brown, slightly ridged. Fl. Jun--Jul, fr. Aug--Sep.

Himalaya (Ladak to Sikkim), S. Tibet.

SE Qinghai, W Sichuan, Xizang.

4500-5200 m

* Alpine meadows, shifting screes; 3500--5300 m.