Leafy herb, 20-35 cm. Stem erect to ascending, glabrous below, usually pubescent above, striate. Leaves 20-50 x 10-23 mm, ovate, glabrous or pubescent acute, base attenuate into a short or long petiole or sessile. Bracts similar to the leaves. Flowers white, 3 (-5-7) in a dichasium. Pedicels slender, pubescent. Sepals 4-5 mm, increasing in fruit, oblong-lanceolate, glandular-pubescent, apex subacute, with a ± scarious margin. Petals 1-1½ times longer than the calyx, deeply bifid into oblong lobes. Capsule ovoid, c. 8 mm long. Seeds tuberculate (almost papillose) at the beak.

Fl. Per.: April-August.

Type: Described from Europe. Cerastium aquaticum (L.) Fries: Syntype: 603.23 Hb. Linn. 195.7 (S).

Distribution: Temperate Asia, Europe, Soviet Central Asia (Aral-Caspian, Lake Balkash area, Tien-Shan).

Found usually in moist places from 1000-2740 m.