Let me further analyse the descriptions from Flora of China:
*Saussurea gnaphalodes* (Royle ex Candolle) Schultz Bipontinus <http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=200024414> *Saussurea glacialis* Herder <http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=250097345> Herbs 1.5-6(-10) cm tall, perennial, polycarpic,* caespitose*. Caudex branched at ground level, usually with many leaf rosettes and flowering shoots. Stem solitary, 1-3 mm in diam., erect, simple. Rosette and stem leaves shortly petiolate; petiole purple;* leaf blade obovate, spatulate, or linear-oblong, 5-20 × 2-8 mm, *abaxially whitish with dark midvein and arachnoid tomentose, adaxially white or brownish arachnoid lanate, base cuneate-attenuate, margin entire, crenate, or obtusely dentate, apex obtuse to rounded. *Capitula 5-20,* in a hemispheric synflorescence 2-4 cm in diam., sessile. Involucre cylindric, (3-)5-8 mm in diam. Phyllaries in 3 or 4 rows, membranous, straw-colored to light brown, apically dark brown strigose, apex obtuse to acuminate; outer phyllaries ovate-oblong, 7-8 × 2-3.5 mm; middle and inner phyllaries narrowly ovate-elliptic to linear, 6-9 × 1-2 mm. Receptacle bristles 0.5-1.5 mm. *Corolla rose-purple*, 8-9 mm, tube 4-5 mm, limb 4-4.5 mm, lobes 2-2.5 mm. Achene brown to dirty white with dark spots, cylindric to obconic, 3-4 mm, smooth, glabrous or gland-dotted. Pappus mouse-gray to blackish; outer bristles 2-4 mm, sometimes reflexed; inner bristles 8-9 mm. Fl. and fr. Jun-Sep. 2*n* = 48*. *Alpine scree slopes; 2700-5800 m. *Gansu, Qinghai, W Sichuan, S and W Xinjiang, Xizang [NE Afghanistan, NW India, Kashmir, E Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, W Nepal, N Pakistan, Tajikistan]. Herbs 2-6(-10) cm tall, perennial, polycarpic,* shortly stemmed.* *Caudex* slender, branched, with several leaf rosettes and flowering stems,* covered with remains of petioles.* Stem solitary, 1-3 mm in diam., erect, simple. *Rosette and stem leaves shortly petiolate; leaf blade narrowly elliptic to obovate, 1.5-4 × 0.4-1 cm,* abaxially white lanate, adaxially yellowish or white lanate, base cuneate-attenuate, margin crenate or entire, apex obtuse. *Capitula 3-15, *in a hemispheric synflorescence 1.5-4 cm in diam., sessile. Involucre cylindric to narrowly campanulate, (5-)7-10 mm in diam. Phyllaries in 3 or 4 rows, scarious, apically purple or blackish, apex acute to acuminate; outer phyllaries narrowly ovate-elliptic, 9-13 × 2.5-3 mm, apically lanate; middle phyllaries narrowly oblong, 8-13 × 1.5-2.5 mm; inner phyllaries narrowly elliptic to linear, 9-13 × 1-1.5 mm, glabrous. Receptacle bristles white, 0.5-2.5 mm. *Corolla purple,* 9-10 mm, tube 3-4 mm, limb 6-6.5 mm, lobes 2-2.5 mm. Achene cylindric to obconic, 3-4 mm, glabrous. Pappus in 2 rows; outer bristles dirty white, 2-5 mm, scabrid to plumose, sometimes lacking; inner bristles basally brown, apically dirty white, 8-11 mm. Fl. and fr. Jul-Aug. *Alpine scree slopes; 3800-5200 m.* Qinghai, Xinjiang, Xizang [E Afghanistan, NW India, Kashmir, E Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, N Pakistan, Russia (Siberia), Tajikistan]. Both appear to be rather close. Keeping it at Saussurea glacialis <https://efloraofindia.com/2013/06/03/saussurea-glacialis/>, for the time being. though not convinced. On Sat, 29 Oct 2022 at 15:14, J.M. Garg <[email protected]> wrote: > Any critical feedback? > > On Thu, 27 Oct 2022 at 11:49, J.M. Garg <[email protected]> wrote: > >> Going by the keys, can it be *Saussurea gnaphalodes* (Royle) Sch.Bip. >> <https://efloraofindia.com/species/a---l/ar/asteraceae/carduoideae/saussurea/saussurea-gnaphalodes> >> ? >> >> On Thu, 27 Oct 2022 at 11:48, J.M. Garg <[email protected]> wrote: >> >>> Three species given in bold below (from keys in Flora of China) are >>> quite confusing. Pl. check (all can be seen at Saussurea >>> <https://efloraofindia.com/2011/03/28/saussurea/>): >>> 18 (12) >>> <http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=317631#KEY-1-12> >>> *Pappus >>> dull dark brown, mouse-gray, or blackish* (19) >>> <http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=317631#KEY-1-19> >>> + *Pappus white, dirty white, straw-colored, light brown, or brown* >>> (21) >>> <http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=317631#KEY-1-21> >>> >>> 19 (18) >>> <http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=317631#KEY-1-18> >>> Plants >>> not caespitose; caudex long, creeping, fragile, branched below ground >>> level; leaf blade elliptic to narrowly elliptic, pinnately lobed to >>> pinnately divided, 5-15 mm wide. 16 *S. quercifolia* >>> <http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=200024444> >>> + *Plants usually caespitose; caudex short, branched at ground level; >>> leaf blade obovate, spatulate, or linear-oblong, undivided, 2-8 mm wide* >>> (20) >>> <http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=317631#KEY-1-20> >>> >>> 20 (19) >>> <http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=317631#KEY-1-19> >>> *Rosette >>> and lower stem leaves green, glabrescent; petioles green,* *elongated;* >>> *leaf >>> margin obtusely sinuate-dentate; outer pappus bristles always reflexed and >>> appressed on achene.* 13 *S. inversa* >>> <http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=250097346> >>> + *Rosette and lower stem leaves whitish, densely tomentose; petioles >>> purple, short; leaf margin entire or shallowly crenate; outer pappus >>> bristles usually erect.* 14 *S. gnaphalodes* >>> <http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=200024414> >>> >>> 21 (18) >>> <http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=317631#KEY-1-18> >>> Plants >>> shortly stemmed, less than 10 cm tall (22) >>> <http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=317631#KEY-1-22> >>> + Plants with a distinct elongate erect flowering stem, usually more >>> than 10 cm tall (24) >>> <http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=317631#KEY-1-24> >>> >>> 22 (21) >>> <http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=317631#KEY-1-21> >>> Leaf >>> blade very small, less than 1 cm. 15 *S. sugongii* >>> <http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=250097347> >>> + *Leaf blade larger, more than 1 cm* *(23)* >>> <http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=317631#KEY-1-23> >>> >>> 23 (22) >>> <http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=317631#KEY-1-22> >>> *Upper >>> stem leaves elliptic, not reflexed, apex obtuse to rounded.* 12 *S. >>> glacialis* >>> <http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=250097345> >>> + Upper stem leaves linear, reflexed, apex acuminate. 19 *S. >>> gyacaensis* >>> <http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=242346737> >>> >>> >>> On Thu, 27 Oct 2022 at 09:12, Saroj Kasaju <[email protected]> >>> wrote: >>> >>>> Yes Alka Ji ! >>>> https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/indiantreepix/VjtKOxNET-8 >>>> Thank you. >>>> >>>> Saroj Kasaju >>>> >>>> >>>> On Thu, Oct 27, 2022 at 9:10 AM Alka Khare <[email protected]> wrote: >>>> >>>>> Hello friends >>>>> >>>>> This was at the Chang la (the top) next to Chang la baba mandir, >>>>> Ladakh in August 2022. >>>>> >>>>> Saussurea glacialis >>>>> >>>>> Requested to please validate. >>>>> >>>>> Thanks and regards >>>>> Alka Khare >>>>> >>>>> -- >>>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>>>> Groups "eFloraofIndia" group. >>>>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send >>>>> an email to [email protected]. >>>>> To view this discussion on the web, visit >>>>> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/indiantreepix/1a7c966e-fc0b-4a01-ae27-3a0b2389a4b5n%40googlegroups.com >>>>> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/indiantreepix/1a7c966e-fc0b-4a01-ae27-3a0b2389a4b5n%40googlegroups.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >>>>> . >>>>> >>>> >>> >>> -- >>> With regards, >>> J.M.Garg >>> >> >> >> -- >> With regards, >> J.M.Garg >> > > > -- > With regards, > J.M.Garg > -- With regards, J.M.Garg -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "eFloraofIndia" group. 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