Cassiope fastigiata (Wall.) D. Don

One of us (Stevens) suggests that there exists a possible hybrid in Xizang (see H. Smith 3823).

Shrubs 8–20 cm tall. Stems initially decumbent, ultimately much branched, fastigiate, stiff white pubescent. Leaves densely imbricate; leaf blade ovate-triangular, 4–6 × 1.5–2 mm, leathery, abaxially deeply furrowed, furrow reaching near apex and diverging near base, furrow rim densely pubescent, adaxially concave, subglabrous, base divergent, 2-lobed, margin silvery, membranous, densely ciliolate, apex with apicule 0.5–1 mm. Flower nutant. Pedicel 3–7 mm, densely crisped-tomentose. Calyx purple; lobes oblong-ovate, 4–5 mm, margin broadly membranous. Corolla white, broadly campanulate, 6–9 mm; lobes spreading, oblong, 2–4 mm. Stamens ca. 2.5 mm; filaments glabrous; awns ca. 1 mm. Capsule 2–3 mm in diam. Fl. May–Jul, fr. Jun–Sep.

Caespitose, 5-30 cm tall; branches many, fastigiate. Leaves c. 6 mm long, ovate, margin hyaline, continued into a long cuspidate apex, dorsal surface appressed to the stem, ventral surface with a longitudinal groove. Flowers solitary or sometimes in clusters of 2 or 3; bract elliptic, c. 3 mm long; pedicels c. 6 mm, villous. Corolla white, campanulate. Anthers spurred. Fruit ovoid, c. 5 mm. Seeds numerous, minute.

Himalaya (Kashmir to Bhutan).

S Xizang [Bhutan, ?Kashmir, Nepal, Pakistan, Sikkim].

Distribution: An alpine shrub, at 3000 to 4000 m in Swat, Kaghan and Kashmir, extending eastward through the Himalayas to Bhutan.

2800-5000 m

Alpine thickets, rocky places; 3000–4500 m.

Described from the Himalayas.