Saxifraga elliptica Engl. & Irmsch.

Herbs perennial, cespitose, 3-7 cm tall. Stem brown crisped glandular villous. Basal leaves with petiole 3-7.5 mm, brown crisped glandular villous at margin; leaf blade elliptic to ovate-lanceolate, 5-9 × 2-4 mm, glabrous, apex obtuse or acute. Cauline leaves ca. 4; petiole ca. 4 mm proximally on stem, absent distally on stem, margin brown crisped glandular villous; leaf blade linear-oblong to oblong, (2-)4-5 × 1-2 mm. Flower solitary; pedicel 3-14 mm, brown crisped glandular villous. Sepals erect, then spreading to reflexed, broadly ovate to elliptic or oblong, 2-3.2 × 1-2.2 mm, leathery, glabrous or sometimes glandular pilose at margin, veins 3-5, not confluent at apex. Petals yellow, obovate to broadly so or broadly elliptic, (4-)6-8.6 × (2.5-)4-5.3 mm, 2-callose, 6-9-veined, base with a claw 1.1-1.2 mm, apex retuse. Stamens ca. 5 mm. Ovary subsuperior, ovoid, ca. 3 mm; styles ca. 2 mm. Fl. Jul-Aug.

E. Himalaya (Nepal to Bhutan), S. Tibet.

S Xizang (Gyaca Xian, Nyingchi Xian, Yadong Xian) [Nepal, Sikkim].

4200-4300 m

Alpine meadows; 4000-4800 m.

Saxifraga diapensia H. Smith var. glabrisepala J. T. Pan.