Perennial, glabrous or pubescent (often densely so on leaf apices) ; rootstock 4-5 mm thick, branched, Radical leaves pinnatifid to entire, rarely subpinnatisect, 30-70 mm long, 10-15 mm broad, usually 5-7-toothed with ± triangular teeth, stalked, with lamina often c. twice as long as the stalk, very variable; terminal lobe sometimes much longer than the lateral lobe. Scapes 10-15(—30) cm long in fruit. Racemes (3-)5-6-flowered, restricted to the terminal part. Flowers c. 10 mm across, white or lilac; pedicels usually 4-5 mm long in fruit, ascending or suberect. Sepals 7-10 mm long, 2-3 mm broad. Petals 15-20 mm long, 3-5 mm broad. Stamens c. 7: 9 mm long; anthers c. 3 mm long. Siliquae 60-80 (-100) mm long, 3-4 mm broad, compressed; valves glabrous with a promi¬nent mid-rib; style (beak) c. 3 mm long, acute; seeds many, c. 2 mm long, oblong-ovate, narrowly winged.

Fl. Per.: June July.

Type: N.E. Afghanistan: Minjan pass, 4000 m, flowers rose-purple, W.Koelz 12670(W, US).

Distribution: Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Distinguished from Parrya stenocarpa Kar. & Kir, a central Asian species, by its smaller size, shorter fruits and pedicels and very few flowered racemes. Some forms reach very close to Parrya stenocarpa (especially subsp. gilgitica Jafri). Parrya chitralensis Rech.f. (non Jafri) and subsp. gilgitica Jafri are pubescent forms of this species, and a good link with the Parrya stenocarpa.