Annual, 3-20 cm high, erect, branched or unbranched herb. Stem puberulent-glabrous, simple or branched, branches from base or from above. Basal leaves 0.75-2.0 x 0.3-0.9 (1.0) cm, distinctly rosulate, elliptic-ovate, stiff, margin entire-papillate, cartilaginous, acuminate, univeined. Cauline leaves 0.4-1.1 x 0.05-0.6 cm, lanceolate, stiff, margin cartilaginous, entire-papillate, long acuminate. Inflorescence a raceme, arising from axils or leaves on main stem. Flowers solitary, in axil of two upper leaves, sessile, 0.5-1.5 cm long. Calyx more than half the size of flower, 0.5-1.25 cm long, tube half the length, lobes 0.3-0.6 x 0.1-02 cm, lanceolate, dentate, hyaline margined, long acuminate. Corolla 0.6-15 cm long, tube 3 times the length of lobes, 0.4-1.2 cm long, lobes 0.2-0.5 x 0.1-0.2 cm, lanceolate, acuminate, entire, plicae half the size of corolla lobes, small, bilobed, acute-acuminate. Stamens 5, filament widened at base, connate at half way, anthers dorsifixed, bilobed, slightly apiculate at base. Ovary 0.25-0.5 x 0.1-0.2 cm, lanceolate, stigma sessile, bilobed, club shaped. Nectaries at base of ovary. Capsule slightly stalked, subexserted-exserted, oblanceolate, seeds numerous, small, finely reticulated.

Fl. Per.: February-April.

Lectotype: Nepal, Buchanan-Hamilton (E!).

B-7 Hazara: Mahandri, Kaghan valley, 1960, McVean s.n. (E), Dadar, ± 4500 ft., 13.4.1959, R.R. Stewart 28808 (RAW), Gorrah, ± 4000 ft., 26.4.1953, R.R. Stewart & E. Nasir 25490 (BM), C-7 Rawalpindi: Kahuta, ± 2000 ft., 243.1940, Nath 19347 (RAW), N.W. Himalaya: Loc. ignot., G.Watt 4229 (E).

Distribution: Pakistan, India, Nepal and Burma.

D.Don (1825) cited the following two specimens: "Nepal, Buchanan-Hamilton and Wallich Catalogue no. 4392a". The original description by him exactly matches with Buchanan-Hamilton's specimen present at Edinburgh. According to Mr. I.C.Hedge (E), the original s et of type specimen were sold to different herbaria, and one of the s et also went to the Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh. Therefore, the above specimen is selected as a lectotype.

A uniregional element of Sino-Japanese origin.

Grows within forest canopy of Pines and Junipers, in dry places, at an elevation of 1500-5000.

For details of specific affinities, see notes under Gentianodes pedicellata (DDon) Omer et al. and Gentianodes aprica (Dune.) Omer et al.