Diarthron altaicum (Thieb.) Kit Tan

Herbs perennial, 20-50 cm tall. Rhizome woody, brown. Stems many, clustered, erect, unbranched, base slightly woody, with many leaf scars. Leaves alternate, closely spaced; petiole 1-1.5 mm; leaf blade elliptic, 2-2.5 × 0.5-1 cm, herbaceous, both surfaces glabrous, base cuneate, rarely obtuse-rounded, margin slightly revolute, apex obtuse or acute; midrib conspicuous; lateral veins 3-5 pairs, proximal pair usually longer, sometimes visible on both surfaces. Inflorescences terminal, spicate, at first short but later elongated, 3-7 cm. Flower fragrant. Calyx reddish; tube cylindric, 8-10 mm, slender, exterior glabrous; lobes 4, broadly lanceolate, 5-6 × 2.5-3 mm, apex acuminate. Stamens 8, the 2 whorls inserted 1-1.5 mm apart, upper whorl in throat; filaments short; anthers oblong, (0.8-)1.5 mm, base and apex retuse; upper ones slightly exserted from calyx tube. Disk oblique, entire, enclosing stipe of ovary. Ovary ellipsoid, stipitate, pubescent distally; style ca. 1 mm; stigma globose. Drupe dark green, obconic, glabrous, enclosed in persistent calyx. Fl. May-Jun, fr. Jul-Aug.

Sunny and dry slopes, sandy places. Xinjiang [Russia (Siberia); C Asia].

Stellera altaica Persoon, Syn. Pl. 1: 436. 1805; Passerina racemosa Wikström; Stelleropsis altaica (Persoon) Pobedimova; Wikstroemia altaica (Persoon) Domke.