YASIN J. NASIR

A low growing diffuse annual. Stems glandular hairy, slender, often reddish. Leaves reniform, 10-40 mm broad, with 5-7 segments; lobes crenate. Stipules 1.5-3.5 mm long, wedge shaped, acuminate, often reddish brown. Flowers 6-7 (-8) mm broad. Peduncles glandular, deflexed in fruit. Sepals 3.5-4.5 mm long, ovate-oblong-lanceolate, hairy. Petals (2.5-) 5-7 mm long, obovate, sometimes retuse, lilac. Filaments 2.5 mm long, gradually dilated towards the base; dilated part ciliate. Beak 8-10 mm long, hairy, mericarps hairy. Seed c. 1.5 mm broad, subglobose, prominently reticulate.

Fl. Per.: March-April.

Type: Described from Europe, Hb. Linn. 858/83 (LINN).

Distribution: W. & C. Europe, Siberia, Turkey, Iran, W. & E. Mediterranean area, Africa, Afghanistan. temperate and tropical Himalaya.

Fairly common in the plains in spring as undergrowth in shade. Ascending to 3000 m. Specimens from Kashmir (Titwal and Surkhala are different in the petals not exceeding the sepals. I have also observed intermediate forms from Bagh (A. Kashmir) and Kulu (in India) where the petals are equal to sepals. Plants parts used as a diurectic and as an astringent.