Published In:
Species Plantarum 1: 142. 1753. (1 May 1753) ( Sp. Pl.)   
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(Last Modified On 6/2/2011)
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Acceptance
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Accepted
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(Last Modified On 6/3/2011)
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Contributor Text:
YASIN J. NASIR
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Flower/Fruit:
Fl. Per.: mid June-August.
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Type:
Holotype: Described from Europe (H. LINN 197/4!).
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Distribution:
Distribution: Widely distributed in Artic and Northern regions of Europe and Asia, N. America.
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Comment/Acknowledgements:
A small white-flowered annual found in high dry areas from 3000-5400 m. The species over its wide distributional range shows marked variation in the length and number of scapes and the length of the pedicel. These characters do not correlate with any particular locality. Small diminuitive to medium sized specimens are known, where the scape is very short and less than the pedicel in length. They occur in the same areas as plants with normally developed scapes, although less frequently, and are indicated in the citation of specimens by an asterisk (*). These specimens bear a marked resemblance to Androsace fedtschenkoi Ovez., in habit (syntype at LE!), and indeed were it not for the larger corolla size, there would be hardly any justification in keeping Androsace fedtschenkoi as a distinct taxon. In this respect it is interesting to note that Bobrov and Schischkin (l.c. 240) cite Androsace septentrionalis var. breviscapa as a synonym of Androsace fedtschenkoi. Androsace septentrionalis also shows some variation in the nature of the inflorescence which may be lax and spreading or ± diffuse and ascending. Robbins (in Amer. Midl. Nat. 32 (1):137.1944, p. 156) in a study of the N. American specimens of Androsace septentrionalis describes the bracts as ‘linear-lanceolate’, which in our specimens are lanceolate or broadly so.
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Illustration:
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Map Location:
Gilgit: A-7 *Naltar vy., R.R. Stewart 26522 (RAW, BM); id., Ski training school, Naltar, S. Omer 19 (KUH); A-8 Chantir Gali, 3600 m, F. Schmid 2123 (G, RAW); Gilgit-Imit, F. Schmid 2123 (RAW); lifter nala, F. Schmid 1884 (G); Darkot, Bowes Lyon 8162 (E, RAW); Zangia Harar, 13000', Hunza, R. Scott Russell 1026 (BM); Sagar, 11000', M.B. Zaman 1589; 1590 (PPFI-M); above Gurais, 7.9.892, Duthie s.n. (K); A-8 Daintar, 3200-3700 m, F. Lobblicher 140 (M); id., 3000 m, Hunza-Nagar, F. Lobblicher 418 (M); *Babusar village, 13000', M.A. Siddiqi & Y. Nasir 2763 (RAW); *id., Sultanul Abed in & M.A. Qaiser 9024 (KUH); Baltistan: Mango, Karakoram, 3850 m, H. Hartmann 1031 (G, RAW); B-8 E. Karakoram, C.B. Clarke 30437 (K); Hushe vy., c. 13000', E. Nasir & G.L. Webster 6022 (GH, K); 6198 (RAW); Chatpani nala, 12-13000', Duthie 13865 (K); id., 13869 (E, BM); B-8 Gulteri nala, Shingo vy., 6.7.1 892, Duthie s.n. (K, BM, E); Deosai, ± 13000', R.R. Stewart 20076 (GH); Satpura-Deosai, E. Nasir & G. L. Webster 6359 (RAW); Satpura pass, M.A. Siddiqi & Y. Nasir 4250 (RAW, BM); Mir-Panzil pass, Deosai, ± 12000', R.R. Stewart 19901 b (RAW); Deosai Plains, Osmaston 91 (K); B-9 Shigar nala, 10000', W. Koelz 9706 (GH); base of mt. Masherubrum, E. Nasir & G. L. Webster 6022 (K); Kashmir: B-8 *ascent to Burzil, R.R. & I.D. Stewart 19095 (RAW); Gurais-Gangabal, flowers white, R.R. & I.D. Stewart 4484 (RAW, KUH, K); Burzil, 14000', R.R. Stewart 19870 (KUH).
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An annual (1.5-) 4-24 cm tall. Roots slender, up to 6 cm long. Leaves in dense basal rosettes, 9-25 x 1.8-6 mm, lanceolate, denticulate, pubescent; the hairs furcate, white. Scape (-s) 2-10 in number, unequal, the central one the largest and up to 16.5 cm long, sparse puberulous and glandular. Umbels (2-) 5-20-flowered. Bracts 2-3 mm long, lanceolate or broadly so, puberulous. Pedicels unequal, the largest up to 70 mm long, slender, shorter than the scape, sometimes longer, glabrescent. Calyx (L5-) 2.6 mm long, ± obpyramidal, glabrous to sparse glandulose, 5-ribbed, accrescent and up to 3.8 mm in fruit; lobes c. 1.3 mm long, triangular, brownish-green (in dried state). Corolla barely exceeding the calyx, white; limb ± 3.5 mm broad. Style less than 1 mm long, stigma capitate. Capsule 3-3.5 mm broad, globose, glabrous, chartaceous, exceeding the calyx. Seeds 14-20 in number, ± 1.5 mm long, oblong, angular, reticulate with the edges minutely vesiculose, brown.
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