Pachypleurum mutellinoides

Pachypleurum mutellinoides is a small, cushion-forming perennial herb of the carrot family (Apiaceae), known in older literature as Ligusticum mutellinoides or Gaya simplex. It is a strictly high-mountain plant of the European Alps, Pyrenees, Carpathians and adjacent ranges, growing on stony alpine pastures, screes and ridges, generally above the treeline. From a stout, branched rootstock the plant produces tight tufts of finely dissected, three- to four-pinnate basal leaves with narrow, linear ultimate segments, the foliage somewhat shining and aromatic when bruised. The slender, often reddish flowering stems are 3-15 cm tall and bear a single compact compound umbel of small white to pale pink flowers in late summer; the involucre and involucels of narrow bracts are characteristic. The fruit is a small, ovoid, ribbed schizocarp typical of the Apiaceae. The species is well adapted to short, cold growing seasons and frequent snow cover.