Annual, spreading, branched from the base or simple, 2-15 cm high herb. Stem almost absent. Basal and cauline leaves 0.25-1.75 x 0.15-0.5 cm, elliptic-ovate or lanceolate, acute, subsessile-sessile, obtuse-subacute, entire. Inflorescence solitary, terminal on 1-4 cm long pedicel, usually nodding at apex. Flowers pentamerous, 0.7-1.2 (-1.5) cm long. Calyx 5, divided to the base, lobes subequal, 0.5-0.75 (-1.0) x 0.2-0.4 cm, lanceolate-oblanceolate, obtuse, crenulate. Corolla blue-purple, sometimes white, lobes 5, parted to the base, subequal, 0.75-1.5 x 0.4-0.6 cm, elliptic-ovate, obtuse, entire, fimbriae ± minute or very thin or completely absent. Stamens 5, filaments dilated at the base, anther basifuced. Ovary sessile, elliptic-oblanceolate, stigmas 2, sessile. Capsule subexserted, sessile, many seeded. Seeds small, reddish brown, reticulated-smooth.

Type: In reg. alpine Himalauae in superiore valle Tschandrae ad lacum ad lacum Tsmtschigma prope jugum kutzum, c. 10000 ped. Jaeschke s.n. (W!).

A-7 Chitral: Upper Yarkhun Vy., Aug. 22-7-1954, F. Schmid s.n. (RAW), B-7 Swat: Ushu valley, Moho Daud, F. Grohman 6243 (RAW). B-8 Gilgit: Rama, S. Omer and M. Qaiser 2366 (KUH), Between Rama & Rama lake, S. Omer & M. Qaiser , Between Rama and Astore, S. Omer and M. Qaiser 2422 (KUH), B-9 Skardo-Dras, C. B. Clarke 30532 B (K), Dras, T. Thomson s.n. (K), Matyan, Ladak Road, Kashmir, R. R. Stewart 12928 (K), Bragnag, Ladak, Kashmir, W. Koelz 2772 (RAW), Sind plain in front of Mud, Ladak, W. Koelz 2356 (RAW), Fotu La, July 1912-1913, R.R. Stewart s.n. (RAW), Parkutta to Tolti, Indus valley, R. R. Stewart 20940 (RAW), Karakorum, C. B. Clarke 30426 (K).

Distribution: Tibet, China, Pakistan, India.