Cardamine trifoliolata Hook. fil. & Thomson

The above first record of Cardamine trifoliolata from Sichuan is based on Pratt 762 (K) and the type collection of Loxostemon smithii var. wenchuanensis; the above first record from Yunnan is based on Rock 4166 (E, GH, US) and ACE 172 (K). As indicated above, accounts of C. trifoliolata in FRPS, Fl. Sichuan. (14: 89. 1999), Fl. Xizang. (2: 360. 1985), and Fl. Yunnan. (6: 58. 1995) are all based on misidentified plants of C. fragariifolia.

The name Cardamine flexuosoides var. glabricaulis was nomenclaturally superfluous when published and is therefore illegitimate because it was based on the same type collection, Wang Fatsuan 21010 (holotype, KUN; isotype, PE), of the already validly published Loxostemon smithii var. wenchuanensis. This collection is an excellent match to the type of C. trifoliolata, Griffith 1757 (holotype, K; isotype, BM), which was collected from Bhutan.

Herbs perennial, (4-)6-18(-25) cm tall, often sparsely pilose at least basally. Rhizomes slender, thickened at stem base, with 1 or few stolons. Stems erect or decumbent, slender, simple or few branched. Basal leaves 1-3, 3- or 5(or 7)-foliolate, rarely simple; petiole 1-4(-5.5) cm; terminal leaflet broadly obovate or rarely ovate, 2-12 × 3-14 mm, with a petiolule 1-6(-8) mm, base subtruncate, cordate, or rounded, margin entire and obscurely 5-lobed or -crenate, apically subtruncate or obtusely 3-lobed; lateral leaflets 1(-3) pairs, subsessile or petiolulate, resembling terminal leaflet, or not lobed and oblong or ovate, smaller. Cauline leaves 1 or 2(or 3), 3(or 5)-foliolate; petiole 0.5-1.5 cm, not auriculate at base; terminal and lateral leaflets similar to those of basal leaves; petiolule 0.5-3 mm. Racemes lax, 2-8-flowered, rachis straight. Fruiting pedicels ascending or divaricate, 0.5-1.5(-2) cm, straight, glabrous. Sepals ovate or oblong, 2-3 × 1-1.4 mm, glabrous, lateral pair subsaccate. Petals white, obovate or spatulate, 5-8 × 2.5-4 mm, not clawed, apex rounded. Median filament pairs 3-4.5 mm, slender; lateral pair 2-3 mm; anthers oblong, 0.8-1 mm. Ovules 8-12 per ovary. Young fruit glabrous. Mature fruit and seeds not seen. Fl. May-Jul, fr. Jul-Sep.

Himalaya (Kumaun to Bhutan).

Sichuan, Yunnan [Bhutan, India, Nepal, Sikkim].

2700-4200 m

Moist rocky crevices, meadows, moist forests, mossy banks, rocky areas; 2500-4300 m.

Cardamine flexuosoides W. T. Wang; C. flexuosoides var. glabricaulis W. T. Wang, nom. illeg.; Loxostemon smithii O. E. Schulz var. wenchuanensis Y. C. Lan & T. Y. Cheo.