Smelowskia calycina (Stephan) C.A. Mey.

Smelowskia species are perennial herbs, densely tufted or caespitose, not scapose. Caudex well developed, usually branched from the base, covered with dry petiolar remains of the earlier years. Stem erect or decumbent, ascending, simple or branched distally, densely pubescent with simple and forked trichomes. Basal leaves in rosulate, obovate-lanceolate in outline, margin 1-2, pinnatisect, rarely entire, petiolate, cauline leaves gradually smaller, similar to basal, few, base not auriculate, petiole short to sessile. Inflorescence raceme corymbs, many flowered, considerably elongated, lax in fruit, ebracteate, sometimes bracteate in the lower flowers. Flowers bisexual, white, pink, purplish, pedicel erect or reflexed, divaricate, slender, ascending, sepals 4, erect or spreading, linear ovate-oblong, inner lateral pair base not saccate, petals 4, obovate-suborbicular, margins entire, apex obtuse, claw distinct, equal or slightly longer than sepals. Stamens 6, tetradynamous, filaments dilated near the base, anthers ovate-oblong, apex obtuse rarely apiculate, nectar glands 4 confluent, usually subtending the bases of stamens, lateral glands annular, median glands cylindriform if present. Ovary superior, linear subcylindrical or ellipsoid, bicarpellary, ovules 4-20. Fruit siliqua, dehiscent, linear lanceolate, ellipsoid or pyriform, sessile, terete or latiseptate, smooth, valves with prominent midvein and obscure marginal veins, valves glabrous, replum rounded, septum complete, style obsolete, stigma capitate, entire. Seeds few, uniseriate, brown, plump, oblong-ovoid, not winged, minutely reticulate, not mucilaginous when soaked, cotyledons obliquely incumbent.

Smelowskia species flowers are complete, bisexual, i.e., with functional male (androecium) and female (gynoecium), including stamens, carpels and ovary. Pollination is entomophilous i.e., by insects, or cleistogamy i.e., by self or allogamy i.e., by cross pollination. Flowering/Fruiting: June—August.

Seeds may be dispersed by autochory i.e., self dispersal, anemochory i.e., wind dispersal, zoochory i.e., dispersal by birds or animals, anthropochory i.e., dispersal by humans.

Perennial herbs, densely tufted or caespitose, about 5-30 cm tall, not scapose. Caudex well developed, usually branched from the base, covered with dry petiolar remains of the earlier years. Stem erect or decumbent, ascending, simple or branched distally above, densely pubescent with simple trichomes, about 2 mm long, sometimes glabrescent. Basal leaves in rosulate, oblong-lanceolate in outline, about 1.5-8 x 0.4-1.5 cm across, margins 1-2, pinnatisect, ultimate segments linear ovate-oblong, apex acute or subobtuse petiole about 1-5 cm long, cauline leaves gradually smaller, similar to basal but linear, base not auriculate, petiole short to sessile. Inflorescence raceme corymbs, 15-30 flowered, considerably elongated, lax in fruit, up to 10-15 cm long in fruit, ebracteate, sometimes bracteate in the lower flowers. Flowers bisexual, cream white, pink, purplish, pedicel suberect, divaricate, slender, ascending, about 5-10 mm long, sepals 4, erect or spreading, linear ovate-oblong, inner lateral pair base not saccate, about 2.5-4 x 1.5-2 mm across, petals 4, obovate-suborbicular, margins entire, apex obtuse, about 5-9 x 1.5-2.5 mm across, claw distinct, equal or slightly longer than sepals. Stamens 6, tetradynamous, filaments dilated near the base, about 1.5-3.5 mm across, anthers ovate-oblong, apex obtuse, about 0.5-0.8 mm long, nectar glands 4 confluent, usually subtending the bases of stamens, lateral glands annular, median glands cylindriform. Ovary superior, linear subcylindrical or ellipsoid, bicarpellary, ovules 4-12. Fruit siliqua, dehiscent, linear ellipsoid, sessile, about 5-9 x 1.5-2.5 mm across, terete or latiseptate, base and apex acute, smooth, valves with prominent midvein and obscure marginal veins, valves glabrous, replum rounded, septum complete, perforated, style about 0.5-1.5 mm long, stigma capitate, entire. Seeds few, uniseriate, brown, plump, oblong-ovoid, about 1.2-1.8 mm long, not winged, minutely reticulate, not mucilaginous when soaked, cotyledons obliquely incumbent.

Smelowskia species are susceptible to various insect pests, virus, mildews and moulds.

Alpine meadows, grassy slopes and rocky crevices, altitude 2500-5000 m.

Not evaluated (IUCN).

Used as ornamental.