Tragopyrum glaucum Capus. in Ann. Agron. 8. No. 3. 1882.

A branched shrub, 1-2 m tall; branches divaricate, ± rigid, rather short, pointed and spinescent, usually leafless at the end. Leaves petiolate, petiole 3-5 mm long; alternate, articulate at base or at the junction blade and petiole; blade obovate to spathulate, 8-15 mm x 5-10 mm, obtuse, entire bright green above, glaucescent beneath; ochreae short, cylindric, 2-3 (-5) mm long, obscurely nerved, the lower part brownish. Inflorescence a compact, 1.5-2.5 (-3.0) cm long, lateral raceme. Flowers pedicellate, pedicel 2.5-4 mm long, articulate below the middle. Perianth segments 5, pale yellow to pinkish yellow, 1-1.5 x 0.5-1 mm, outer 2 linear lanceolate, inner 3 ovate-oblong. Stamens 8, filaments 0.5-1.0 mm long. Ovary, 3-angled; styles 3. Fruit with enlarged, inner perianth segments, inner perianth segments slightly unequal, orbicular, 4-7 mm across, greatly exceeding the nut; outer segments smaller, elliptic, reflaxed. Nut smooth, brown, trigonous, acute, 2.0-3.0 x 1.0-1.5 mm broad. Seeds brown, smooth and shining.

Fl. Per.: May-July.

Type: Described from Zeravschan (LE).

In Pakistan, this Irano-Turanian (Central Asian) element is rather rare, seems to be confined to Chitral between 2400-3500 m; Distribution: Central Asia, Pamir-Alai, Pakistan and Afghanistan.