Geranium refractum Edgew. & Hook.

Purplish glandular trichomes on the inflorescence are usually enough to identify this species unequivocally. In old herbarium specimens, sometimes purplish pigment is restricted to the apical cell and septa of the glandular trichomes. Yeo (Edinburgh J. Bot. 49: 165. 1992) sug gested that plants from Xizang have whitish flowers, whereas those from Sichuan and Yunnan have pinkish flowers. Geranium melanandrum and G. refractoides have been differentiated on this basis and by their more obscure stamens and styles. However, these color features are very variable and do not allow the recognition of different species.

Perennials. Rootstock ± vertical, 5-12 mm in diam., not tuberculate, with thickened roots along rootstock. Stem 16-50 cm tall, erect, not rooting at nodes, with 0.2-1.3 mm retrorse to patent nonglandular trichomes and rarely 0.7-0.8 mm patent glandular trichomes. Stipules broadly lanceolate, connate at least at base. Leaves opposite; petiole with 0.3-1.3 mm patent to retrorse nonglandular trichomes and rarely 0.7-0.8 mm patent glandular trichomes; leaf blade 3.4-6.8 cm, palmately cleft, ratio of main sinus/middle segment length = 0.73-0.89, pilose with appressed nonglandular trichomes and rarely patent glandular trichomes; segments 5, rhombic, 3.5-7.5 mm wide at base, 6-18-lobed in distal half, ratio of second sinus/middle segment length = 0.17-0.28. Cymules solitary, 2-flowered; peduncle 3.9-10.3(-20) cm. Pedicel 0.4-4 cm, with 0.4-0.9 mm uncinate patent nonglandular trichomes and purplish 0.4-0.8 mm patent glandular trichomes; bracteoles linear-lanceolate. Sepals 8.4-10.8 mm, mucro 0.8-2.2 mm, ratio of mucro/sepal length = 0.09-0.22, outside with 0.3-1.4 mm antrorse ± appressed nonglandular trichomes and purplish 0.3-1.1 mm patent glandular trichomes, inside glabrous. Petals white or pale pink, (1-)1.2-1.5(-2) cm, reflexed, basally sometimes outside and also usually inside with trichomes, margin basally with a dense tuft of trichomes, apex rounded. Staminal filaments reddish purple to pink, lanceolate, abaxially sparsely pilose and proximal half ciliate, trichomes 0.2-1.1(-1.6) mm; anthers blackish, 1.8-2.6 mm. Nectaries 5, hemispheric, abaxially glabrous, apex with a tuft of trichomes. Stigma pale pink to purplish. Fruit 2.5-3.2 cm, nodding when immature; mericarps smooth, with a basal callus, with 0.5-1 mm ± patent nonglandular trichomes; rostrum 1.7-2.2 cm, with a 5.2-6.2 mm narrowed apex; stigmatic remains 2.6-3.3 mm. Seeds 2.7-3 mm. Fl. and fr. Jul- Aug. 2n = 28.

Himalaya (Nepal to Bhutan), S. Tibet, N. Burma.

Sichuan, S Xizang (Yadong), Yunnan [Bhutan, N India, N Myanmar, Nepal].

3500-4800 m

Scrub, meadows; 1800-4500 m.

Geranium angustilobum Z. M. Tan; G. batangense Pax & K. Hoffmann; G. melanandrum Franchet; G. refractoides Pax & K. Hoffmann.

Flowering and fruiting from July to August.

Geranium refractum is occurring in Sichuan, S Xizang Yadong, Yunnan of China, Bhutan, N India, N Myanmar, Nepal.

Perennials. Rootstock nearly vertical, 5-10 mm in diameter, not tuberculate, with thickened roots along rootstock. Stem 16-50 cm tall, erect, not rooting at nodes, with 0.5-1.5 mm retrorse to patent nonglandular trichomes. Stipules broadly lanceolate, connate at least at base. Leaves opposite; petiole with 0.5-1.3 mm patent to retrorse nonglandular trichomes; leaf blade 3.5-7 cm, palmately cleft, pilose with appressed nonglandular trichomes and rarely patent glandular trichomes; segments 5, rhombic, 3.5-7.5 mm wide at base, 6-18-lobed in distal half. Cymules solitary, 2-flowered; peduncle 3.9-102 cm long. Pedicel 0.5-4 cm long; bracteoles linear-lanceolate. Sepals 0.8-1.1 cm long, mucro 0.8-2.2 mm, outside with 0.3-1.4 mm antrorse ± appressed nonglandular trichomes and purplish 0.3-1.1 mm patent glandular trichomes, inside glabrous. Petals white or pale pink, 1.2-1.5 cm long, reflexed, basally sometimes outside and also usually inside with trichomes, margin basally with a dense tuft of trichomes, apex rounded. Staminal filaments reddish purple to pink, lanceolate, abaxially sparsely pilose and proximal half ciliate, trichomes 0.2-1.1 mm long; anthers blackish, 1.8-2.6 mm long. Nectaries 5, hemispheric, abaxially glabrous, apex with a tuft of trichomes. Stigma pale pink to purplish. Fruit 2.5-3.5 cm long, nodding when immature; mericarps smooth, with a basal callus, with 1 mm ± patent nonglandular trichomes; rostrum 1.7-2.2 cm; Seeds 2.7-3 mm long.

Growing in scrub, meadows; 1800-4500 m.