Draba lichiangensis W. W. Sm.

The above first record from Nepal is based on Einarsson, Skäfby & Wetterhall 2727 (UPS). The above record from Bhutan is based on the holotype and paratype of D. hicksii, Ludlow, Sherriff & Hicks 21111 (BM) and Ludlow, Sherriff & Hicks 20348 (BM), respectively.

A comparison of the type collections of Draba lichiangensis, Forrest 5698 (holotype, E; isotype, BM), and D. daochengensis, Qinghai-Xizang Team 5091 (holotype, PE; isotypes, KUN, PE), shows that the latter species is indistinguishable from plants of the former that grow in shaded rock crevices.

Herbs perennial, (1-)2-5(-8) cm tall, often densely cespitose, scapose. Caudex many branched, ultimate branches terminated in rosettes and covered with petiolar remains of previous years. Stems erect, simple, sparsely to densely tomentose with stellate trichomes. Basal leaves rosulate, persistent; petiole to 4 mm, persistent, ciliate with simple trichomes or not ciliate; leaf blade spatulate, oblanceolate, or rarely oblong, (2-)4-8(-12) cm × (0.5-)1-2.5(-3) mm, abaxially tomentose with stellate trichomes the rays of which with 1 or 2 lateral branches, adaxially subglabrous or with simple or stellate trichomes, base attenuate, margin entire or minutely 1-4-toothed, apex obtuse to acute. Cauline leaves (1 or)2-8(-11), sessile; leaf blade ovate, oblong, or elliptic, similar in indumentum to basal leaves. Racemes (3-)5-10(-13)-flowered, lowermost flower(s) bracteate, very rarely bracteate throughout, slightly elongated in fruit. Fruiting pedicels (1-)2-8(-15) mm, divaricate, straight, sparsely to densely tomentose all around with stellate and forked trichomes. Sepals oblong, 1-1.8 × 0.6-0.8 mm, erect, abaxially sparsely pubescent, base of lateral pair not saccate, margin not membranous. Petals white, narrowly obovate to oblanceolate, 2-3 × 0.7-1.3 mm, apex subemarginate. Filaments 1-1.8 mm; anthers ovate, 0.2-0.3 mm. Ovules 8-12 per ovary. Fruit ovate to elliptic, 2-4(-5) × 1.5-2.5 mm, not inflated, latiseptate, not twisted; valves glabrous or rarely pubescent, obscurely veined, base obtuse to acute, apex acute; style 0.1-0.4 mm. Seeds brown, ovate, 0.9-1.3 × 0.6-0.9 mm. Fl. May-Jul, fr. Jun-Aug.

Nepal, Bhutan, China

Qinghai, Sichuan, Xizang, NW Yunnan [Bhutan, Nepal].

3500 - 5000 m.

Mountain slopes, gravely areas, crevices of limestone cliffs, scree, grassy hillsides, stony moist meadows; 3500-5000 m.

Draba daochengensis W. T. Wang; D. hicksii Grierson; D. lichiangensis var. microcarpa O. E. Schulz; D. lichiangensis var. trichocarpa O. E. Schulz.