Syn.: Androsace densa Pax et K. Hoffm., Androsace gustavii R. Knuth, Primula tapete Kuntze, Primula tapete Derganc
Family: Primulaceae Vent.

Androsace tapete

Distribution: This species occurs in Nepal, Sikkim, Bhutan and China (Tibet and provinces of Gansu, Qinghai, Sichuan and the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region).

Ecology: It grows in dry grassy habitats and gravelly mountain slopes, at altitudes from 3500 to 5000 m. Flowers from June to July.

Androsace tapete

Description: Perennial herb, forming compact cushions. Leaf rosettes usually 2–3 mm in diameter; leaves sessile, outer oblong, 2–3 mm long, dark brown, nearly glabrous, inner leaves linear to oblanceolate, 2–3 mm long, abaxially densely white villous on distal 1/2 and on margin. Flowers solitary, subsessile, hidden in leaf rosettes, pentamerous; calyx cylindric, 2.5–3 mm, parted to 1/3 or below, lobes triangular with long hairs; corolla white or pink, with a bright red or yellow centre, 3 mm in diameter, lobes broadly obovate. Fruit is a spherical capsule.

Androsace tapete
Androsace tapete

These images were taken in China, Tibet, Yamdrok Yumtso (by František Mazáč, 12. 5. 2009).