BAIMASHANIA Al-Shehbaz, Novon 10: 321. 2000.

Ihsan A. Al-Shehbaz

Tribe: Arabideae de Candolle, Mém. Mus. Hist. Nat. 7(1): 229. 1821.

Name derivation: for Baima Shan, a mountain in NW Yunnan Province, China.

Type species: Baimashania pulvinata Al-Shehbaz

     Herbs perennial, scapose, pulvinate, with a well-developed, few- to many-branched caudex covered with leaves or leaf remains of previous years. Trichomes simple mixed with, stalked 2-rayed forked ones, restricted to leaves. Multicellular glands absent. Stems absent. Basal leaves petiolate, rosulate, simple, entire, persistent, with stramineus, thick, basally flattened petioles; cauline leaves absent. Racemes 2- or 3-flowered and ebracteate, or flowers solitary on short pedicels originating from axils of rosette leaves; fruiting pedicels slender, erect to ascending, often hidden among basal leaves. Sepals oblong, free, deciduous, erect, equal, base of inner pair not saccate, margin membranous; petals pink, erect at base with flaring blade, longer than sepals; blade spatulate, apex obtuse; claw slightly differentiated from blade, subequaling sepals, glabrous, unappendaged, entire. Stamens 6, slightly exserted, erect, slightly tetradynamous; filaments wingless, unappendaged, glabrous, free, not dilated at base; anthers oblong, not apiculate at apex. Nectar glands 1, confluent and subtending bases of all stamens; median nectaries present. Ovules 6-12 per ovary; placentation parietal. Fruit dehiscent, capsular siliques, linear, strongly latiseptate, not inflated, sessile, unsegmented; valves papery, with an obscure midvein, glabrous, not keeled, smooth, longitudinally striate, wingless, unappendaged; gynophore absent; replum rounded, visible; septum complete, membranous, with a distinct midvein; style slender, to 1 mm long, cylindric, persistent, glabrous; stigma capitate, entire, unappendaged. Seeds uniseriate, wingless, oblong, slightly flattened; seed coat minutely reticulate, not mucilaginous when wetted; cotyledons accumbent.

     Two species: endemic to China (Yunnan and Qinghai provinces).

Reference: Al-Shehbaz (2000e).

1. Leaves ovate to oblong, densely pubescent throughout; flowers solitary; ovules 6-8 per ovary;

     Yunnan ………………………………………………………………………… 1. B. pulvinata

1. Leaves narrowly linear, glabrous except for ciliate petiole margins and a tuft on leaf apex; 

     flowers mostly in 2- or 3-flowered racemes; ovules 10-12 per locule; Qinghai........…2.  B. wangii