Bupleurum gracillimum Klotzsch & Garcke

Plants 6–30(–40) cm, perennial. Taproot slender. Stems numerous, caespitose, decumbent, slender, branching at base, yellow or tinged pink, base without fibrous remnant sheaths. Leaves sessile; blades linear, 1–6 × 0.2–0.6 cm, 7–11-nerved, gray-green, base slightly dilated, almost clasping, apex acuminate. Middle leaves shorter and broader, lanceolate, thinly 15–19-nerved. Umbels 1–3 cm across; bracts 3–4, ovate or elliptic, 4–9 × 2–4 mm, unequal; rays 3, 0.5–2 cm, rather thick, unequal; bracteoles (1–)3–5, ovate or lanceolate, 1.5–5 × 0.7–2.5 mm, very unequal; umbellules ca. 5 mm across, 3–6(–9)-flowered, only 2–3 flowers develop into fruit; pedicels ca. 1 mm. Petals yellow or dark purple. Stylopodium low-conic, dark yellow or purplish. Fruit ellipsoid or long-ovoid, brown, 3.5–4.5 × 2–2.3 mm, apex slightly narrow; ribs pale yellow, rounded; vittae 4–5 in each furrow, 4 on commissure. Fl. and Fr. Jul–Sep.

Perennial; main stem short, c. 1 cm long; branches many from the base decumbent, up to 35 cm long. Basal leaves crowded, linear up to 6 cm long; upper leaves gradually shorter and fewer, linear, slightly amplexicaul, veins 5-7 Involucral bracts 2-5, linear, unequal, veins 3. Rays 2-5, slender. Involucel 5-6 linear bractlets, as long or longer than the flowering umbellet, veins 3. Pedicels as long as the flowers. Each petal with a broad, brown resin canal. Stylopodium brown. Fruit 3 mm long; furrows 3-vittate.

Sichuan [Bhutan, Kashmir, N Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan].

Distribution: Himalayas.

Alpine meadows, streamsides; 3200–4500 m.

Flowering and fruiting from July to September.

Bupleurum gracillimum is close relative of Bupleurum condensatum, but differs from the latter in its basal leaves few (vs. numerous), not rosette-caespitose (vs. rosette-caespitose), rays ca. 3 (vs. 4-7), 0.5–1.7 cm (vs. 3-6 cm), petals yellow or dark purple (vs. yellow or yellow-green).

Bupleurum gracillimum is occurring Sichuan, Xizang of China, Bhutan, Kashmir, N Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan.

Plants 6-40 cm tall, perennial. Taproot slender. Stems numerous, caespitose, decumbent, slender, branching at base, yellow or tinged pink, base without fibrous remnant sheaths. Leaves sessile; blades linear, 1-6 cm long, 0.2-0.6 cm wide, 7-11-nerved, gray-green, base slightly dilated, almost clasping, apex acuminate. Middle leaves shorter and broader, lanceolate, thinly 15-20-nerved. Umbels 1-3 cm diameter; bracts 3-4, ovate or elliptic, 4-9 mm long, 2-4 mm wide, unequal; rays 3, 0.5-2 cm, rather thick, unequal; bracteoles 3-5, ovate or lanceolate, 1.5-5 mm long, 0.8-2.5 mm wide, very unequal; umbellules ca. 5 mm across, 3-8-flowered, only 2-3 flowers develop into fruit; pedicels ca. 1 mm long. Petals yellow or dark purple. Stylopodium low-conic, dark yellow or purplish. Fruit ellipsoid or long-ovoid, brown, 3.5-4.5 mm long, 2-2.3 mm wide, apex slightly narrow; ribs pale yellow, rounded; vittae 4-5 in each furrow, 4 on commissure.

Growing in alpine meadows, streamsides; 3200-4500 m.