Small, biennial-perennial, 2-8 cm high herb with stoloniferous roots. Stem mostly absent, or present, up to 5.0 cm high, simple. Basal leaves indistinctly rosulate, 0.45-0.8 x 03-0.6 cm, obovate-broadly obovate, margin cartilaginous, entire, obtuse, sheathing at base, univeined. Cauline leaves 0.5-1.25 x 0.3-0.75 cm, obovate-spathulate, marginate, hyaline, papillae few, obtuse, sheathing at base. Inflorescence terminal, 1-3 flowered. Flowers 1.5-3.0 cm long, infundibuliform, sessile. Calyx 0.8-1.75 cm long, tube equal or longer than lobes, 0.5-1.25 cm long, lobes unequal, 0.3-0.6 x 0.1-0.2 cm, lanceolate, margin dentate-entire or both, obtuse-acute, sinuses between lobes obtuse. Corolla 1.5-3.0 cm long, blue, tube 1.25-2.75 cm long, lobes 0.2-0.5 x 0.15-0.25 cm, obovate, crenate, obtuse, streaked all over, plicae small, acute. Stamens 5, filaments filiform, adnate at half way, winged, anthers dorsifixed, bilobed. Ovary 0.5-1.25 x 02-03 cm, long stipitate, narrowly lanceolate, style short, stigma bilobed, coiled. Capsule exserted, 0.75-1.75 x 0.4-0.75 cm, oblanceolate, medium stalked. Seeds numerous, winged, brown.

Fl. Per.: August-September.

Type: Wall. Catalogue no. 4389 (Holo-K!, Iso-BM!, E!).

B-7 Hazara: Musa ka Mussala, Siran range, 21.8.1899, Inayat s.n. (K), B-8 Kashmir: Yamhar pass, ± 14000 ft., Sept. 1931, R.R. Stewart 12915 (K, NA, NY, RAW), Mt. Apharwat, 14000 ft., R.R. Stewart 8845 (NA), Sonamarg, ± 13000 ft., 18.8.1928, R.R. Stewart 9897 (NY, RAW), Palgam,12000 ft.,4.9.1876, Clarke 31050 A (K), Kashmir (probably Gulmarg), 11500 ft., Aug. 1877, Aitchison 65 (K), Above Gulmarg, 13000 ft., Fuller 135 (K), Manter nullah, 13000 ft., 4.9.1940, Ludlow & Sherriff 8052 (BM), Apharwat, 13300 ft., Polunin 56/226 & 56/786 (BM), West Udder, 12-13000 ft., Sept. 1936, Miss G. Ward 244 (BM), Zajibal, 12500 ft., 15.8.1940, Pinfold 299 (BM).

Distribution: Pakistan (Hazara), Kashmir, India (Tihri-Garhwal, Kunawer, Lahul, Bashahr, Kumaon), Nepal and Tibet.

A Sino-Japanese element, extends from Himalayas to Karakorums, at higher elevations.

Grows in thick and moist alpine meadows at an elevation of 10-14000 ft.

According to article 33.2 of ICBN, the previous combination of Gentianodes venusta (Wall.) Love & Love is not valid, as only unpublished basionym is referred to.