Gymnospermium altaicum, (Pallas) Spach

1. G. altaicum (Pallas) Spach View in CoL , Hist. Vég. (Phan.) 8: 67 (1839)

( Leontice altaica Pallas ; inch L. odessana (DC.) Fischer ex G. Don fil. ).

Stems 5-20 cm, slender, each with a long-petiolate basal leaf and a subsessile cauline leaf immediately below the inflorescence. Leaves ternate, the primary divisions divided palmately into 4-7 entire, oblong, obtuse segments 15-35 mm long. Raceme short, with 6-12 flowers. Perianth-segments 8-10 mm, oblong; honey-leaves somewhat shorter than stamens. Fruit 5-6 mm, subglobose, pendent; seeds 1 -4, remaining attached for some time after dehiscence of the fruit. Black Sea region, from Krym to E. Romania. Rm Rs (W, K).

In spite of the wide geographical separation, typical material from the Altai Mountains agrees well with plants from Europe, and the separation of the latter at more than varietal level does not seem to be justified.