Annual herb, glabrous, greyish green fasciculately branched from base. Stems numerous, shiny-brownish, few leaved. Basal leaves rosulate, 0.3-0.6 x 0.1-025 cm, lanceolate, entire, obtuse-subacute, cauline leaves 0.25-0.9 (-1.0) x 0.1-0.25 cm, elliptic-lanceolate or spathulate, entire, acute. Inflorescence solitary, terminal. Flowers 0.5-1.25 cm long, campanulate, pedicellate, pentamerous. Calyx unequal, 0.5-0.9 cm long, tube 0.15-0.25 cm long, lobes 0.25-0.5 x 0.075-0.175 cm, lanceolate, entire, margin membranous, acute-acuminate. Corolla 0.5-1.25 cm long, blue-purple or pale blue, tube 0.2-0.65 (-0.7) cm long, lobes 0.25-0.6 x 0.15-0.3 cm, broadly lanceolate-ovate, entire, acute-acuminate. Stamens 5, filaments winged, adnate in the middle or lower part of corolla anthers sagittate, dark coloured, basifixed. Nectaries epipetalous, 5 and each opposing the petal at the base of corolla throat. Ovary superior, 0.3-0.6 x 0.05-0.15 cm, lanceolate, included, sessile, stigma sessile, bilobed. Capsule 0.4-0.7 x 0.1-0.25 cm, broadly lanceolate with persistent stigma and numerous seeds. Seeds smaller than the two other species, reddish brown, circular.

Fl.Per.: July-September.

Type: Alpine Sikkim, Samdong, alt. 11-17000 ft., J.D.Hooker (K!).

B-9 Kashmir: Sind plain, in front of mud, Ladak, 14000 ft., 17.7.1931, Koelz 2356 (E), Rangdum, Zanskar , 10000 ft., 11.9.1931, Koelz 2873 (E), Taglung La, 16000 ft., 24.7.1941, Ludlow & Sherriff 8524 (BM), Kichih Kundan glacier, Shyok valley, 16500 ft., Ludlow 577 (BM), Taklung La, 17000 ft., 14.8.1933, Koelz 6517 (W).

Distribution: Pakistan (Kashmir), India, Sikkim and Tibet.

An Irano-Turanian element.

A species which is often confused with Gentianella Moench or Aloitis Rafin. but it differs from both on the basis of basifixed stamens, and could also be separated from Gentianella Moench on the basis of corolla throat which is naked.

A new record for Pakistan.