Stems many from a perennial rootstock, erect, simple, 5-9 in. high, thinly and minutely puberulous or subglabrous, rather densely leafy throughout; leaves alternate, with a whorl of 3 at the base of the umbel, ascending or suberect, more or less imbricating, very shortly petiolate, 1/4-3/4 in. long, 2/3-4 1/2 lin. broad, varying on different stems of the same plant from linear-lanceolate to ovate, acute and shortly aristate-mucronate at the apex, distinctly cordate at the base in the broader and rounded in the narrower leaves, slightly revolute at the margins, glabrous on both sides; umbel 3/4-1 1/2 in. in diam., 3-rayed; rays 1/2-1 in. long, shortly once-or twice-branched, glabrous; bracts 3-5 lin. long, 3 1/2-7 lin. broad, broadly deltoid-cordate, acute, apiculate, glabrous; involucre shortly pedunculate, 1 1/2 lin. in diam., cup-shaped, glabrous, with 4 glands and 5 subquadrate minutely toothed lobes; glands about 2/3 lin. in their greater diam., somewhat crescent-shaped or transversely oblong, with a short horn at each end; ovary glabrous, exserted 1/2-2/3 lin. from the involucre on a recurved pedicel; styles free, radiately spreading, 1/2, lin. long, deeply bifid at the apex; capsule and seeds not seen.
Home