Corispermum tibeticum Iljin

Plants 5-20 cm tall. Stem branching mostly from base; lower branches ascending or prostrate, upper ones obliquely spreading. Leaves linear, 2-3.5 cm, 1-veined, base attenuate, apex acute, mucronate. Spikelike inflorescence elongate, terete, loose, 2-7 cm; bracts narrowly ovate, sometimes slightly sickle-shaped, narrower than or as wide as utricle, margin narrowly membranous. Perianth segment 1, suborbicular, apex irregularly denticulate. Stamens 1-5. Utricle broadly elliptic or oblong-elliptic, 3-4 × 2-2.5 mm, glabrous, base subcordate or rounded, apex acute or rounded; wing light yellow, 1/6-1/3 as wide as body, margin irregularly denticulate; beak ca. 1 mm, apex ca. 1/3 as long as beak. Fl. and fr. Jul-Sep.

Annual up to 25 (-40) cm in fruit, rather densely hairy, branched from base, the elongated lower branches ascending. Leaves oblong or oblong-lanceolate or more rarely oblong-obovate, gradually narrowing towards base, obtuse or apiculate or acute at apex, the middle ones mostly somewhat falcate, ± fleshy, lower up to 10 x 5 mm. Inflorescence loose to fairly compact but relatively slender; bracts ovate, acuminate, broadly white-scarious margined, completely covering or very slightly narrower though longer than the fruit. Perianth of 1 segment, ± rounded, almost truncate and toothed at apex. Stamens 1-5. Fruit glabrous, oval to oblong-oval, 3-4 x 2-2.5 mm, ± broadly triangular, tapering at summit, with slightly convex outer face and slightly concave inner face, glabrous and somewhat lustrous, winged; wings semi-transparent, yellowish, slightly crenate to entire, 1/6-1/3 as broad as the darker olivaceous kernel.

Distribution: C. Asia (Pamir), Tibet, Pakistan and Kashmir.

Sandy places, riversides; high elevations. Qinghai, Xizang [Kashmir, Pakistan; C Asia (Pamir mountains)].

Corispermum ladakhianum Grey-Wilson & Wadhwa.

C. hyssopifolium auct. non L.: Hook. f., Fl. Brit. Ind. 5: 9. 1886; C. ladakhianum Grey-Wilson & Wadhwa in Kew Bull. 42(2) : 471.1987.