Epilobium sikkimense Hausskn.

Herbs perennial, erect, often clumped, with thick fleshy soboles just at or below ground level that leave brown basal scales. Stems (5-)10-25(-60) cm tall, simple or sometimes branched, glabrous except for 2(or 4) raised strigillose lines decurrent from margins of petioles, or sometimes strigillose and glandular on inflorescence. Leaves sessile and slightly clasping above, lower ones with petioles to 3 mm; cauline blade ovate to elliptic or oblong-lanceolate, narrower below, (0.8-)1.5-7.5 × (0.6-)1-3.7 cm, glabrous except for sparsely strigillose margin and midvein, base broadly cuneate or rounded, margin serrulate with 10-35 teeth per side, apex subobtuse to acute. Inflorescence and flowers nodding to suberect. Sepals 5.5-8 mm. Petals pink to rose-purple, 7-14 mm. Stigma capitate, entire. Capsules 5-9 cm, sparsely strigillose and glandular; pedicels 0.6-2(-2.5) cm. Seeds gray-brown, 1-1.3 mm, coarsely papillose, with short chalazal collar; coma white, detaching easily. Fl. (Jun-)Jul-Aug, fr. Aug-Sep. 2n = 36*.

Gansu, Qinghai, Shaanxi, Sichuan, Xizang, Yunnan [Bhutan, N India (Darjeeling, Sikkim, Uttar Pradesh), Myanmar, Nepal; Himalayan region].

High montane and alpine meadows, moist rocky slopes along streams, rocky glacial outwashes and gravel bars; (2400-)3200-4700 m.

Epilobium sikkimense subsp. ludlowianum P. H. Raven; E. soboliferum P. H. Raven; E. squamosum P. H. Raven; E. trilectorum P. H. Raven.