Lancea tibetica

Lancea tibetica is a small plant in the Mazaceae family. It is a perennial, which means it lives for years. Its native range runs from the Himalaya to Mongolia. Kew places it in subalpine or subarctic climates. It is not native to Britain or Ireland. In western China, it grows in grassland and thin woods. It also grows by streams in these highland areas. Known sites lie at 6,560–14,760 feet [2,000–4,500 metres] above sea level.

This low plant grows about 0.33 feet [0.1 metres] tall. Kew calls it a perennial or a rhizomatous geophyte. This means it may live on through rhizomes, or stems below ground. The accounts give no width at full size or spread rate. Nor do they describe the leaf shape or stems. Its small size suits the front of a planted bed. PFAF lists garden beds and sunny woodland edges as sites.

PFAF says the plant blooms from May to July. Each flower has both male and female sex organs. This alone does not show how pollen moves between flowers. Seeds ripen later, from July through September. The sources do not give flower colour or fruit shape. They report the use of flowers, leaves and fruit in medicine. These uses do not show that the plant is safe to eat.

PFAF lists both sun and part shade for garden growth. The plant prefers moist soil, not a dry site. It can grow in sand, loam or clay soils. The listed pH range runs from mildly acid to mildly alkaline. This gives gardeners some choice of soil and planting site. Yet the sources give no tested winter hardiness zone. Its cold home climate alone cannot prove a garden hardiness rating. These accounts name no pests, diseases or pruning needs.

PFAF records several uses in traditional Tibetan medicine. People have used flowers, leaves and fruit for lung complaints. They have also used fruit for heart and menstrual disorders. They have used leaves on wounds. These reports describe past practice, not proof that treatments work. PFAF gives no known food uses or other practical uses. It lists no known hazards, but this does not prove safety. It also records no weed potential for the species.