European Stoneseed

A polymorphic species variable in the nature of indumentum and breath of leaves.

Kazmi (l.c. 358) distinguishes the var. stewartii Kazmi as having longer, stouter and spreading hairs, but this character is variable. Found in areas of Kashmir from 1500-3300 m.

Perennial up to 90 cm tall. Stem usually branched with both subappressed antrorse and patent hairs (up to 1.5 mm long) with swollen base. Leaves 60-70 x 10-16 mm, lanceolate or broadly so, antrorsely hairy; hairs c. 1.9 mm long, arising from a swollen base. Flowers racemose, bracteate, subsessile; bracts leafy but smaller. Pedicel pubescent, up to 4 mm long in fruit. Calyx 4-5 mm long, antrorsely hairy, slightly longer in fruit, lobes linear. Corolla white, tube ± 4 mm long; lobes ± spreading, ovate-obtuse, crenulate-wavy; limb 3.5-4 mm broad. Throat with 5 sac-like pubescent pouches. Anthers oblong, c. 1 mm long, situated below and alternating with pouches, subsessile, apiculate. Style 1.7 mm long, stigma sub-capitate. Nutlets 3-4 mm long, ovoid, pale white, smooth and shiny.

Herbs perennial; most parts short strigose. Roots containing little purple dye when young. Stems usually single, erect, to 1 m tall, frequently much branched at apex. Leaves sessile, lanceolate to ovate-lanceolate, 3-8 × 0.5-1.5 cm, base cuneate to attenuate, apex short acuminate; veins prominent abaxially, more densely strigose along veins. Inflorescences on upper stems and branches, to 15 cm in fruit; bracts similar to leaves but smaller. Calyx lobes linear, ca. 5-7 mm in fruit. Corolla white or pale yellow, 4-6 mm; tube ca. 2 × as long as limb; throat with 5 trapeziform, densely short pubescent appendages ca. 0.4 mm; lobes of limb erect, oblong-ovate, ca. 1.5 mm, margin undulate. Stamens inserted at middle of corolla tube; filaments ca. 0.4 mm; anthers ca. 1.2 mm. Stigma capitate. Nutlets white or yellowish brown, ovoid, ca. 3 mm, smooth, shiny, concave adaxially with center line forming a longitudinal groove. Fl. and fr. Jun-Aug. 2n = 28, 56.

Afghanistan, Bhutan, China, N. India, Nepal, Russia; Europe,SW and W Asia.

Distribution: Europe to C. Asia.

Fl. Per.: June-July.

Meadows on slopes, forest margins. C Gansu, Nei Mongol, Ningxia, N Xinjiang [Afghanistan, Bhutan, N India, Nepal, Russia; Europe, SW and W Asia].