Trachydium simplicifolium W. W. Smith

This distinctive species is often collected in flower, but the fruit is poorly known.

Plants 7–20(–30) cm. Stem erect, purplish, sparsely pubescent. Lower leaves 2–7; petioles 2–18 cm, sheaths 1–3 cm, inflated, flushed purple, densely pubescent; blade orbicular or broadly ovate, 3-lobed divided to middle, 2–12 × 1.8–10 cm, glabrous except veins scabrous, adaxially green, abaxially dark purple, base cordate, margin crenate. Leaves reduced upwards with large sheaths. Umbels 1.5–4 cm across; bracts absent or 1–2, lanceolate, entire or apex 2–3-lobed; rays 6–12, purplish, (1.5–)2–4(–5) cm, subequal, sparsely pubescent; bracteoles ca. 10, narrowly oblanceolate, purple, to 12 mm, just longer than flowers, entire. Calyx teeth minute. Petals white or purplish, shortly clawed at the base. Fruit oblong-ovoid, ca. 2 × 1 mm, smooth or scattered-tuberculate; ribs filiform to thickened; vittae 1–2 in each furrow, 4 on commissure. Seed face slightly concave. Carpophore parted to base. Fl. and fr. Aug–Nov.

NW Yunnan.

Alpine meadows, stony slopes; 2700–4000 m.