Rhodiola imbricata Edgew.

Perennial dioecious herb, 10-30 cm high. Root thick. Rhizome subcylindrical to long-ovoidal, 2-2.5 cm wide. Scaly radical leaves on the apical part of the rhizome. Flowering stems 3-6 on each rhizome, simple, erect, glabrous, old flowering stem deciduous, 10-30 cm high, 3-10 mm wide. Cauline leaves sessile, entire-remotely denticulate along the margin of the upper half, acute, glabrous, narrowly obovate to narrowly elliptic or lanceolate, imbricate, 20-30 x 3-7 mm. Inflorescence terminal dense, compound corymb or corymb, bracteate. Flowers unisexual, 4-5 merous, pedicellate. Calyx lobes basally connate, entire, obtuse, linear to subulate or linear-ovate, 4.5-6.5 x 0.8-1 mm. Petals glabrous, entire, obtuse, narrowly angular-obovate or oblong-obovate, 5-6.5 x 1.2-1.5 mm. Stamens 8-10 longer than the petals, in two whorls, basifixed, epipetalous 3.5-4.5 mm long, alternipetalous 5.5-8 mm long. Carpels 4-5, 3-5 x 0.5-0.7 mm, style c. 0.8 mm long, marginal placentation, ovules 8-10 per locule. Nectar scales broadly oblong to oblong, 0.7-1.2 x 0.5-0.9 mm. Follicles 4-5, 8-12x1.5-2 mm. Seeds 8-10 per fruit, 1-1.5 x 0.3-0.5 mm, ellipsoidal with elongated apex.

Himalaya (Kashmir, Kumaun, Nepal).

Distribution: Pakistan, Kashmir, India and Nepal.

4500-5500 m

Fl. Per. : June - August