Description from Flora of China
Type: China. Xizang: N of Phari, 1882, Dr. King’s Collector 54 (holotype, K).
Paratypes: China. Xizang: near Phari, 14,500 ft., Sep 1838, B. J. Gould 1621 (K); Dochen Lake Camp, ca. 15,000 ft., 24 Jun 1939, B. J. Gould 2194 (K); Valley ca. 10 km NNE of Lhasa, 4,150 m, 2 Aug 1989, B. Dickoré 3628 (K). Qinghai: E shore of Kokonor (Qinghai Hu), 10,700 ft., Sep 1925, J. F. Rock 13385 (K).
Plantae suffruticosae; caules multi erecti vel ascendentes, ramis ascendentibus brevibus angustis; indumentum ex trichomatibus medifixis adpressis constans. Folia 1(ad 2)-pinnatisecta, segmentis 3- ad 5-jugatis asymmetrice 3(ad 5)-lobatis, lobulis ultimis oblanceolatis usque anguste oblongis interdum falcatis 4-7(-10) × 0.9-1.5 mm. Synflorescentia paniculata anguste cylindrica, ramis erectis brevibus. Involucrum ovoideum usque ovoideo-campanulatum 2.5-4 × 1.5-2.5 mm, phyllariis glabris, exterioribus costa crassiuscula. Flosculi marginales 5 ad 8, ei disci 5 ad 12 ovario vestigiali.
Plant subshrubby, 7-22 cm tall; rootstock a deep woody taproot to ca. 1 cm thick; stems becoming very many with age, erect or ascending, basally medifixed appressed pubescent, upper parts glabrescent; branches ascending, short, narrow. Basal and lower stem leaves usually withered by anthesis; pseudostipules absent; petiole 1-2.5 cm; leaf blade ± oblong to oblanceolate in outline, 1-2.5 × 0.6-1.5 cm, 1(-2)-pinnatisect, abaxially adpressed pubescent, adaxially glabrous or glabrescent; segments 3-5-paired, asymmetrically 3(-5)-lobed; ultimate lobules oblanceolate to narrowly oblong, sometimes falcate, 4-7(-10) × 0.9-1.5 mm, apex acute to slightly cuspidate. Middle and upper stem leaves similar but smaller and often pseudostipulate, these with 2 or 3 pairs of lobes. Synflorescence an erect or ascending narrowly cylindric panicle; branches erect, closely appressed to main axis, short, to 3.5 cm, lower bracts sessile, pinnatisect to subpalmatisect, uppermost bracts linear. Capitula separated, mostly erect; peduncle 1-6 mm, sparsely pubescent, usually bracteolate. Involucre ovoid to ovoid-campanulate, 2.5-4 × 1.5-2.5 mm; phyllaries ca. 3-seriate, glabrous, inner zone sometimes tinged purplish, scarious margin broad, hyaline; outer phyllaries broadly ovate, short, with slightly thickened midrib, apex rounded to subacute; inner phyllaries oblong-ovoid, apex acute, sometimes slightly recurved. Marginal florets 5-8; style long exserted. Disk florets 5-12; corolla ca. 2 mm, glabrous; ovary vestigial. Achenes dark brown, cylindric-ellipsoid, obscurely pale ribbed.
Y. Ling & Y. R. Ling (Acta Phytotax. Sin. 18: 511. 1980) published Artemisia xigazeensis as a "nom. nov." for A. salsoloides sensu J. D. Hooker (Fl. Brit. India 3: 321. 1881), not Willdenow (Sp. Pl. 3: 1832. 1803), explicitly including in synonymy both A. salsoloides var. salsoloides (as misapplied by Hooker, loc. cit.), A. salsoloides var. paniculata J. D. Hooker (loc. cit.), and A. salsoloides f. halodendron Pampanini (Nuovo Giorn. Bot. Ital., n.s., 34: 697. 1927). This multiplicity of elements means that the replaced synonym was not clearly indicated, as is required by Art. 33.4 of the Vienna Code for valid publication of a replacement name. Artemisia xigazeensis was not instead validly published as the name of a new taxon because no type was indicated (Art. 37.1).
The name Artemisia xigazeensis has been consistently applied to a distinctive small caespitose plant branching mostly very near ground level and with erect racemelike panicles. The present treatment excludes the syntypes of A. salsoloides var. paniculata, all of which have 1 to few stems branching mostly well above ground level and have relatively broad panicles, matching A. prattii rather well. In these circumstances, A. xigazeensis is here described as a new species.
● Rocky slopes, steppes, roadsides; 2700-4600 m. ?Gansu, Qinghai, E Xizang.