Rhinopetalum karelinii Fischer ex D. Don in Sweet, Brit. Fl. Gard., ser. 2, t. 283. 1835; Fritillaria karelinii var. albiflora X. Z. Duan & X. J. Zheng.

Bulb of 2 scales, ca. 1 cm in diam. Stem 12--35 cm, papillose-pubescent. Leaves 5--8, basal 2 subopposite, lanceolate, 4--6 × 0.8--1.5 cm, distal ones alternate, linear, 2.5--3 cm × 1--5 mm, minutely papillose-pubescent. Inflorescence 3--13-flowered; bracts usually 2, linear. Flowers slightly zygomorphic; pedicel 7--12 mm. Tepals rose violet, spotted or tessellated with dark color, oblong-ovate, 1--1.5 cm × 3--5 mm; nectary on 1 outer tepal much larger than others and spurred abaxially. Stamens slightly shorter than tepals; filaments usually papillose-ciliate proximally; anthers subglobose or broadly ovate, ca. 1.2 mm in diam. Style scarcely lobed. Capsule wingless. Fl. Apr, fr. May--Jun. 2 n = 24*.

Sandy soil, stony slopes, gravelly screes. NW Xinjiang [Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan; SW Asia (Iran)].