Atelanthera contorta Gilli; A. pentandra Jafri.

Herbs annual, slender, (1-)3-10 cm tall. Stems erect, usually simple at base, branched above, sparsely to densely pubescent, usually glabrescent above. Basal 2 leaves represent persistent cotyledons. Cauline leaves linear or narrowly oblong, sessile, (0.5-)1-2(-3) cm × (0.5-)1-3 mm, pubescent with malpighiaceous trichomes, base cuneate, margin entire, apex obtuse. Racemes 2-5-flowerd, lax. Fruiting pedicels 1-4(-6) mm, slender, narrower than fruit. Sepals 2-3 × 0.7-1 mm, densely pubescent with malpighiaceous trichomes, membranous margin to 0.1 mm wide, apex obtuse, membranous. Petals white becoming purplish, narrowly spatualte, 3-4.5 × 0.7-1 mm; claw to 2 mm. Filaments white, 2-3 mm; anthers narrowly oblong, 0.4-0.5 mm. Fruit linear, terete or slightly compressed, 1.3-2.5 cm × 0.6-1 mm; valves densely pubescent with malpighiaceous trichomes; style 0.5-1 mm. Seeds brownish, ovoid, somewhat plump, 0.7-1 × ca. 0.5 mm.

Gravelly or sandy beds, among stones, sandy slopes; 2400-3100 m. Xizang [Afghanistan, Kashmir, Pakistan, Tajikistan].