Annual 15-40 cm tall, branched, glabrous. Leaves elliptic-ovate to ovate, 25-140 x 16-70 mm, serrate to subcrenate, base glandular stipitate; petiole up to 30 mm long, slender. Bracts 1-2 mm long, lanceolate. Flowers white, 4.5-6 mm long; pedicel up to 20 mm long, slender. Lateral sepals ovate, c. 1.5 mm long, spur c. 1 mm long, sometimes tinged yellow. Anterior petal orbicular-cuneate, 3-4 mm long; lateral united petals 5-6 mm long, dissimilar; lower ones prolonged. Capsule erect, cylindrical to subclavate, 12-22 mm long. Seeds 2.5-3 mm long, oblong, rugose.

Fl. Per.: July-Aug.

Type: Described from Dzungarian Ala-Tau, Baskan river, Kar. & Kir. 13339 (LE).

Distribution: C. Asia, Sinkiang and W. temperate Himalayas from Kumoan to Kashmir.

This is our commonest and smallest flowered, almost spurless balsam; often gregarious in moist and shady places from 1900-3000 m. The opposite leaved variety (var. jacquemontii Hook. f.) has not been reported from our area so far, but may well occur.