Biennial-perennial, 4-15 (-18) cm long, branched from base herl Stem abbreviated from base, each terminating into a flower. Basal leavt strongly rosulate, 0.75-1.5 x 0.15-0.4 cm, oblanceolate-obovate, narrowed base into petiole, entire, obtuse, cauline leaves very few, 0.5-1.2 x 0.25-0.4 cm, oval-oblong, obtuse-subacute. Flowers solitary, pentamerous, borne on up to 6.0 cm long peduncles, flowers 0.5-1.2 cm long, campanulate. Calyx lobed, lobes divided almost to base, tube absent or almost so, lobes unequa 4-equal, 0.4-0.6 (-0.7) x 0.2-0.35 cm ovate, marginate, margin rimmed, entire acute, the fifth lobe bigger than the rest, 0.65-0.85 x 0.3-0.5 cm, broad ovate, each lobe 3-10 veined, but not reticulately veinods. Corolla purpl blue, 0.5-1.2 cm long, tube double the length of lobes, 0.8-1.0 cm long, lobe 0.3-0.7 x 0.2-0.5 cm, obovate, entire, obtuse, fimbriate, fimbriae equal in length, subexserted. Stamens 5, filaments filiform, winged at base, adnate at middle of corolla or below, anthers dorsifixed, 2-lobed. Nectaries epipetslons. Ovary 0.75 - 1.15 x 0.2 - 0.4 cm, lanceolate-broadly lanceolate, stigma bilobed, sessile. Capsule subexserted, 0.8-1.25 x 0.25-0.5 cm, broadly lanceolate. Seeds numerous, globose, very finely reticulated.

Fl. Per.: August-September.

Syntypes: In humidis alpis Nuchusaban 1834 Turczaninow (LE-Photo!), in lapidosis summarum alpium Alatau ad Sazchan et Aksu, Karelin & Kiriloff 1712 (LE-Photo!).

A-7 Gilgit: 74 30 E, 36 5' N, 15000 ft., 12.8.1961, Flower-Ellis R-9 (K), B-7 Hamra-Gilgit: 14 km from Babusar village on way to Babusar top, 5.9.1988, Omer & Qaiser 2678 & 2681 (KUH), B-8 Kashmir: Ladakh, above Choretren Chen, 17000 ft., 19.8.1931, Koelz 2664 (NY), Baltistan: Lal Pir, 13500 ft., 10.8.1936, Koelz 9542 (NA, NY, RAW), Karakorum glacier, near corner camp, 13830 ft., Conway 266 (K), Thalle La, 15-16000 ft., 18.8.1940, SR.R. Stewart 20758 (NY, RAW), Talala (Thalle La), 13000 ft., Koelz 9740 (NA, NY), Kichih Kundan glacier, 16500 ft., 28.7.1929, Ludlow 576 (BM), Ladak, Zingpoche, 18000 ft., 3.8.1931, Koelz 2527 (NY), Sasis pass, 15000 ft., Karakorum trade ro ute, Ladak, 11.8.1928, Ludlow 477 (BM), Shish nag, E. Lidder valley, ± 12000 ft., 16.8. 1946, Vaid s.n. (NY), Apharwat, 13000 ft., 11.8.1919, Rich 1251 p.p. (K).

Distribution: U.S.S.R., Afghanistan, Pakistan, China, India, Bhutan, Tibet and Nepal.

An Irano-Turanian element, which extends into Sino-Japanese region in Nepal and in Kashmir.

Grows in alpine meadows in dry areas, among grasses at an elevation of 12-18000 ft.

Flowers fairly late in the months of August and September.