Roscoea tibetica Batalin

Plants 5--15 cm tall. Leaves 1--3, forming a rosette; ligule obscure, ca. 0.5 mm; leaf blade elliptic, widest near base, 2--6 × 1--2.5 cm, obscurely to densely hairy especially when young, apex obtuse to acute. Inflorescence enclosed by leaf sheaths; bracts elliptic, 2.2--4 cm. Flowers purple or violet, held just above leaf rosette. Calyx brown spotted, 3--4 cm, apex 3-toothed. Corolla tube 4--5 cm; central lobe oblong, cucullate, 1.5--1.7 cm × ca. 8 mm, apex apiculate; lateral lobes lanceolate, 1.5--1.8 cm × 4--5 mm. Lateral staminodes oblong, 1--1.3 cm. Labellum slightly reflexed, obovate 1.4--2.5 × 0.8--1.8 cm including claw, usually deeply lobed for more than 1/2 its length. Anther cream; connective spur 3--7 mm. Ovary cylindric, ca. 1.5 cm. Fl. Jun--Jul.

It is a subtropical plant. It grows in pine forests and alpine meadows between 2,400-3,800 m above sea level. In Sichuan and Yunnan.

The young leaves are cooked and eaten as a vegetable.

Can be grown by divisions, seedlings or tubers.