Parnassia viridiflora Batalin

One of the present authors (Hultgård) believes that this species would be better treated as a variety of Parnassia laxmannii, on account of the green petals being practically the only distinguishing character.

Stems 1-5, 9.5-20.5 cm, with 1 leaf near base. Basal leaves (1 or)2-4(or 5); petiole (1-)1.5-2.5 cm; leaf blade purple punctate or not, ovate-elliptic or triangular-ovate, rarely ovate-cordate, 1-2.5 × 0.6-1.5 cm, arcuate 5-7-veined with veins prominent abaxially, base broadly cuneate, subtruncate, or attenuate, apex obtuse or subacute. Cauline leaf sessile, semiamplexicaul, similar to basal ones but much smaller, sometimes with a few rusty brown appendages at base. Flower 1.3-1.8 cm in diam.; hypanthium turbinate. Sepals inconspicuously minutely brown punctate abaxially, ovate-lanceolate or oblong-lanceolate, 3.5-5 × 1.5-1.8 mm, 3-veined abaxially, margin entire, apex obtuse. Petals green, purplish veined, occasionally purple punctate, oblong-lanceolate or narrowly oblong, 7-8 × 2-2.5 mm, 5-veined, base attenuate into a claw 1.5-2 mm, margin entire, apex rounded. Anthers ellipsoid, ca. 1 mm; filaments ca. 3.5 mm; staminodes flat, ca. 2.5 mm, stalk ca. 1 × 0.8 mm, lamina ca. 1.5 × 1.5 mm, 3-lobed, lobes truncate at apex. Ovary semi-inferior, ellipsoid; style ca. 0.5 mm; stigma 3-lobed, lobes obovate. Capsule ellipsoid. Seeds brown, glossy, oblong. Fl. Aug. and fr. Sep.

Qinghai, Shaanxi, Sichuan, Yunnan.

* Scrub, alpine meadows; 3600-4100 m.

Parnassia laxmannii Pallas var. viridiflora (Batalin) Diels; P. rumicifolia Brieger ex Limpricht; P. trinervis Drude var. viridiflora (Batalin) Handel-Mazzetti.