Draba spruceana Wedd., Ann. Sci. Nat. Bot. V. 1: 286. 1864. TYPE: Ecuador, [Titaicún, 4300 m, Nov 1858] Spruce 5766 (holotype, P!; isotypes, B!, BM!, CGE!, E!, F!, G!, GH!, K!, NY!, OXF!, W!).
Herbs perennial, subscapose; caudex slender, branched, the branches sometimes woody, covered with remains of leaf bases of previous years, terminated in rosettes. Scapes 4–10 cm. Basal leaves rosulate, crowded; petiole obsolete to 1.5 mm; leaf blade ovate to oblong-ovate, 3–9(–15) mm, (1.5–)2.5–4.5(–7) mm, both surfaces sparsely pubescent with stalked, forked or cruciform trichomes to 0.3 mm and with unbranched rays, rarely adaxially with primarily simple hairs or both surfaces glabrous, base or all margin ciliate with simple trichomes, margin repand or with 1 or 2 teeth and with long-stalked cruciform trichomes, apex obtuse; cauline leaves similar to basal leaves. Racemes corymbose, elongated and to 4 cm in fruit; bracts at least on lower third of inflorescence, sessile, broadly ovate to oblong, with indumentum similar to that of cauline or basal leaves; fruiting pedicel divaricate to ascending, slender, stellate pubescent, (1.5–)2.5–5 mm. Sepals erect, caducous, broadly oblong, 1.5–2 mm, 0.8–1.2 mm, glabrescent, base not saccate; petals white, spatulate, not clawed, 2.2–2.8 mm, 0.8–1.2(–1.5) mm, apex shallowly emarginate; filaments white, dilated at base, 1.5–1.8 mm; anthers ovate, 0.3–0.4 mm; nectar glands confluent, subtending bases of all stamens; ovules 8–12 per ovary. Fruit narrowly ovate to oblong or lanceolate, compressed, (3–)4.5–6 mm, 2–2.3 mm; valves subacute, sparsely covered with short, antrorse, simple trichomes sometimes confined to margin; style narrowly conical, 0.4–0.5 mm; stigma entire. Seeds brown, compressed, ovate-oblong, 1.1–1.3 mm, 0.8–0.9 mm.
Flowering: Jul–Nov.
Habitat: páramo, black calcareous rocks.
Elevation: 4100–4350 m.
Distribution: Ecuador (Chimborazo, Napo, Pichincha, Tungurahua).