Eritrichium laxum I. M. Johnst.

Herbs perennial, 5-15 cm tall. Stems cespitose, erect to decumbent, sparsely appressed pubescent. Petiole of basal leaves 1-4 cm; leaf blade ovate-lanceolate; stem leaves ± sessile, oblanceolate, 1-3 cm × 4-8 mm, short appressed pubescent, base cuneate, apex acute. Inflorescences axillary below 1-2 cm, racemose above. Pedicel of axillary flowers to 2.5 cm, sparsely pubescent. Calyx lobes linear to oblanceolate, 1.5-2 mm, slightly elongated in fruit, strigose outside, sparsely appressed pubescent inside. Corolla white or light blue, campanulate-rotate; tube 1.3-1.7 mm; appendages lunate; limb 5-6 mm wide; lobes suborbicular, 2.2-2.5 mm. Stamens inserted on middle of corolla tube; anthers oblong. Gynobase to 1 mm in fruit. Nutlets dorsiventrally compressed, sparsely pubescent, 1.5-1.7 × ca. 1 mm excluding marginal glochids; adaxially protruding, sparsely pubescent; abaxially flat or somewhat convex, ovate-triangular, with few hairs; marginal glochids 0.2-0.4(-0.6) mm, free at base; attachment scar at upper 3/8 adaxially, smaller, orbicular, convex. Fl. and fr. Jun-Aug.

S Qinghai (Nangqên Xian), S Xizang, NW Yunnan.

* Meadows, rocky ridges; 4000-5000 m.