Cardamine gracilis (O. E. Schulz) T. Y. Cheo & R. C. Fang, Bull. Bot. Lab. N. E. Forest. Inst., Harbin 1980(6): 27. 1980;          C. multijuga Franchet var. gracilis O. E. Schulz, Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 17: 289. 1921. TYPE: China, Yunnan, Lichiang, near Ngu Le Keh, 2900 m, 18 Jul 1914, Camillo Schneifer 1862 (holotype, B!; isotypes, GH!, K!, US!).

            Herbs, perennial, glabrous throughout, semiaquatic. Rhizomes slender, to 10 cm or longer, 0.5–3 mm in diam. Stems 1–3.5(–5) dm, erect, simple, striate angled, rooting from lower and sometimes middle nodes. Basal leaves not known; cauline leaves 10–20 per stem, (1.5–)2.5–7.5(–9) cm ´ (1.5–)4–14(–17) mm; petiole absent or rarely to 2 mm; terminal leaflet narrowly obovate, oblong, or rarely broadly ovate, (2–)3–8(–9) ´ (0.5–)1.5–5(–7) mm, petiolule 0.5–2 mm, base cuneate or rarely obtuse, margin obscurely 1–3-toothed on each side, apex acute, submucronate; lateral leaflets (6 or)7–12(–15) pairs, linear or narrowly oblong, asymmetric, slightly smaller than terminal lobe, sessile or rarely with a petiolule to 0.5 mm, base oblique, proximal margin 1- or 2(or 3)-toothed, distal margin entire or rarely obscurely 1- or 2-toothed, apex acute; proximal pair of lateral leaflets auriclelike, attached at or just above node, often giving appearance of amplexicaul leaf base. Racemes ebracteate, 10–20-flowered; fruiting pedicels divaricate, 0.8–2.2 cm, slender. Sepals oblong or ovate, 3–4 ´ 1.2–2 mm, spreading, margin membranous, base of lateral pair subsaccate; petals lavender with darker veins, spatulate, 6–8 ´ 2–3 mm, spreading, apex rounded; filaments spreading, dilated at base, subequal, median pairs 3.5–5 mm, lateral pair 3–4.5 mm; anthers narrowly oblong, 1.3–1.6 mm; ovules 10–14 per ovary. Fruit linear, 2–4 cm ´ ca. 1.5 mm; gynophore ca. 0.5 mm; valves smooth, glabrous; style 4–6 mm. Seeds brown, oblong, 1.7–2 ´ ca. 1.3 mm, winged all around; wing ca. 0.4 mm wide.

Flowering: Jun–Aug.

Habitat: marshlands, lake shores, margins of ponds, ditches, open pastures.

Elevation: 2400–3300 m.

Distribution: China (Yunnan).