Rhodiola litwinowii Borissova

Main root thick, ca. 30 cm, apically to 2 cm in diam. Caudex many branched, robust, 3-4 cm.; persistent old flowering stems few. Caudex leaves scalelike, ovate-triangular, 1-1.5 × 1-1.5 cm. Flowering stems numerous, erect, 10-17 cm, densely leafy. Stem leaves alternate, greenish, usually yellowish green when dry, 10-15 × 3-5 mm, base cuneate, apical margin obtusely dentate, apex obtuse. Inflorescences compact, 1-1.5 × 2-2.5 cm, many flowered, bracteate. Flowers unisexual, unequally 4- or 5-merous; equaling or slightly longer than pedicel. Sepals yellow, lanceolate, ca. 3 mm, apex obtuse. Petals yellow, lanceolate, ca. 4 mm, apex obtuse. Stamens 8 or 10, ca. 4 mm, equaling or longer than petals; filaments and anthers yellow. Nectar scales quadrangular, apex truncate. Follicles to 8 mm, tapered and apically filiform, apical beak 1-1.5 mm. Seeds brown, oblong-lanceolate, 1.5-2 mm. Fl. Jun-Aug, fr. Jul-Sep.

Xinjiang [Mongolia, Uzbekistan].

Below 3200 m.