Polygonum rottboellioides Jaub. & Spach

Prostrate-subprostrate, 8-25 (-35) cm high, branched from base or above, annual herb. Stem scabridulous, angular. Leaves 0.6-1.75 x 0.05-0.1 cm, linear, margins recurved, entire-cartilaginous, petiolate-sessile, acute, acuminate or obtuse. Ochreae 0.3-0.6 cm long, hyaline lacerate or fimbriate, ovate, tubular, faintly 1 or 2 nerved. Inflorescence axillary, 1-3 flowered. Flowers 1.5-2.0 mm across, very shortly pedicellate. Ochreolae small, c. 2.0 mm long, elliptic, acute. Tepals 5, 1-1.5 x 0.5-1.0 mm, lanceolate - oblanceolate, acute, unequal, pink or white; tube much longer than the lobes. Stamens 5, filaments short, equal with dorsifixed anthers. Ovary very small, <1 mm long, ovate, trigonous with 3 short styles and capitate stigmas. Nuts 1.75-2.25 x 0.75-1.5 mm equalling to perianth and adherent to it, ovate-trigonous, dark brown or black, shining.

Himalaya (Chitral to Nepal), W. Tibet.

3000-3200 m

Polygonum tubulosum Boiss., Diagn. Pl. Or. Nov. Ser. 1, 7: 83. 1846; Hook. f., Fl. Brit. Ind. 5: 27. 1886; Polygonum durum Brenckle in Phytologia 3: 365. 1950.