Saxifraga glabricaulis H. Sm.

Herbs perennial, densely cespitose, 2-4 cm tall. Stem glabrous. Rosette leaves ovate-lanceolate, 4-6 × 1.5-3 mm, adaxially and marginally hispid, base contracted into a petiole ca. 1.5 cm, apex obtuse. Cauline leaves with petiole reduced to absent distally on stem; leaf blade oblanceolate to narrowly ovate, 6-8 × 2-3 mm, adaxially and marginally hispid, apex obtuse. Flower solitary; hypanthium glabrous. Sepals narrowly ovate to lanceolate, 3-4 mm, glabrous, veins 3-6, confluent into a verruca at apex, apex obtuse. Petals yellow, elliptic to orbicular, to 8 × 5.5 mm, 5-veined, base abruptly narrowed into a claw ca. 1.5 mm. Male flowers: stamens 2-3.5 mm; anthers ca. 0.8 mm, with pollen; ovary ovoid-conical, ca. 2 mm; styles rather bent, 0.7 mm; stigma obscure. Female flowers: stamens ca. 2.5 mm; anthers small, without pollen; ovary ca. 3 mm, with an annular nectary disc; styles divergent, thick, ca. 1.5 mm; stigma thick. Fl. and fr. Jul-Aug. 2n = 16.

Himalaya (Nepal to Bhutan), S.E. Tibet.

SE Xizang [Bhutan, Nepal, Sikkim].

4200-4500 m

Near snow lines; ca. 4800 m.

Saxifraga palpebrata J. D. Hooker & Thomson var. parceciliata Engler & Irmscher.