Codonopsis subsimplex Hook.f. & Thomson, J. Proc. Linn. Soc., Bot.

Codonopsis subsimplex Hook.f. & Thomson, J. Proc. Linn. Soc., Bot. View in CoL 2: 16. 1857. Lectotype (designated by Hong, 2010): INDIA, Sikkim, Lachen , 4270 m, 15.07.1849, J.D. Hooker s.n. (K [K000814205 digital image!]). Fig. 2 View Fig

Erect foetid herbs. Stems 16–40 cm long, ascending, almost glabrous or sparsely white-villous, red. Leaves alternate or almost opposite on branches; petioles 0.4–4.2 cm long, glabrous or sparsely white villous; lamina broadly ovate, 2.5–10 × 2–5 cm, acute or slightly obtuse at apex, cuneate or rounded at base, crenate or dentate along margin, deep green and hispidulous adaxially, pale green and hispidulous abaxially, midrib prominent, hirsute along veins. Cymes terminal, 2–4-flowered; pedicels 3.5–5 cm long, villous. Calyx tube adnate to whole hypanthium; lobes ovate, almost as long as corolla, 12–15 × 5.5–8 mm, hirsute abaxially, margin denticulate, ciliate, acute at apex. Corolla campanulate, 10–22 × 11–18 mm, inflated at base and narrowed from middle, slightly revolute at apex, greenish-yellow, glabrous and lustrous outside; lobes ovate-deltoid, 2–3 mm long, obtuse at apex. Stamens 5; filaments 3–4.5 mm long, glabrous, slightly dilated at base; anthers 5–6 mm long, linear-oblong, glabrous, yellow. Ovary semi-inferior; style erect, c. 6 mm long, sparsely ciliate; stigma lobe ovoid, recurved. Capsules obovoid, gradually narrowed towards base, with persistent calyx.

Flowering & fruiting: Flowering and fruiting from July to September.

Habitat: It grows in the alpine scrub forest, in association with Corydalis juncea Wall. ( Fumariaceae ), Ligularia amplexicaulis DC. ( Asteraceae ), Gentiana stylophora C.B.Clarke ( Gentianaceae ), Morina nepalensis D.Don ( Dipsacaceae ), Rhododendron setosum D.Don ( Ericaceae ), etc.

Distribution: Bhutan, China, North India and Nepal.

Specimens examined: INDIA, Sikkim, East district, Kyangnosla Alpine Sanctuary, N 27̊23'37.59'', E 88̊45'23.19'', 3965 m, 03.07.2018, S. Lahiri & S.S. Dash 85743; Ibid., 3350 m, 07.10.1870, C.B. Clarke 12542; Ibid., 3350 m, 08.10.1870, C.B. Clarke 13450; s.loc., 4750 m, 04.08.1893, Cummins s.n.; Ibid., 08.12.1903, Prain’s Collector 267; Sherabthang, 3960 m, 13.08.1910, W.W. Smith 4298; s.loc., 12.08.1910. W.W. Smith 4250; Zemu Valley , 3960 m, 20.07.1909, W.W. Smith & G.H. Cave 1653 (CAL) .

Notes: Codonopsis subsimplex is close to C. gongshanica Q.Wang & D.Y.Hong but differentiated by much smaller leaf, shorter petiole and with a solitary flower, smaller calyx lobes and pale purple corolla which has dark purple ring just below the throat.