Draba alshehbazii(Brassicaceae), a new species from extreme altitudes of eastern Ladakh (Jammu and Kashmir, India)

Abstract

The new species Draba alshehbazii Klimes & D.German sp. nov. (Brassicaceae) from eastern Ladakh, India is described and illustrated. The species grows from 5310 to 6000 m in the subnival zone on solifluction soils. It resembles Draba oreades, with which it often occurs but is distinguished from all other Draba species in Ladakh by its yellow petals and tomentose indumentum. Differences from the eastern Tibetan Draba involucrata are discussed. A simplified key for the identification for Draba species in Ladakh is provided. © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2008, 158, 749–754.