Leontopodium brachyactis Gand.

Perennial tomentose or somewhat glabrous stoloniferous herbs; stolons c. 10 mm long, covered with dense, brown scaly leaves. Stem many. Basal leaves in dense rosettes, 30-40 x 3-4 (-5) mm, spathulate, usually thickish, obtuse to subacute, cauline leaves (20-) 30-40 x 3-4 mm, non subulate, shortly mucronate, usually densely lanate-tomentose, 1-veined. Capitula 3-5, laxly arranged 6-8 mm in diameter, subtended by the inflorescence bracts which are not different from the cauline leaves in colour and pubescence, but forming a distinct star, lanceolate obtuse; phyllaries dark brownish, c. 5 x 1.5-1.7 mm, scarious with a lower ± greenish part, long pilose hairy, acuminate. Cypselas of female florets larger than the sterile ones of bisexual florets, c. 1.5 mm long, papillose; pappus setae 4.5-5 mm long, barbellate, deciduous falling as a unit.

Rhizome short, stems 10-25 cm. Plants tight cushion-forming with many underground woody runners to 10 cm long. Leaves broadly spathulate, 1.5 cm x 0.5 cm, or 2.5 cm x 0.3 cm. Bract-like leaves 8-10. "Flowering star" to 2.5-3.5 cm across. Flowering heads 3-5 in number, 6-8 cm across. Stems and foliage white-pubescent. V - early spring to late autumn, in St. Petersburg April-October. Fl - May-June. Fr - August. P - by seed and by division. Does well in dry places on slopes. Can be used as a groundcover plant and in the rock garden. Z 5 (4). New.

Afghanistan, W. Tibet, Himalaya (Kashmir to Nepal).

Distribution: Pakistan, India, W. Xizang, Nepal to China.

Central Asia (Pamiro Alay, Alayskiy Range). On cliffs, rocky slopes at 1,800-3,600 m.

3900-4800 m

Fl.Per.: June-August.

A fairly common species, grows from 2200-4000 m, among rocks, open stony ground.