M. QAISER AND S. NAZIMUDDIN

A subspinescent shrub or small tree, young branches tomentose, Leaves alternate or fascicled on dwarf shoot not exceeding 6 cm, elliptic, lanceolate or oblanceolate, 2-5 x 0.7-2 cm, acute, obtuse, or rounded, entire or serrate, base cuneate, subcoriaceous, tomentose, on both sides when young, mature leaves only tomentose on nerves beneath, midrib prominent with 3-4 pairs of lateral nerves, petiole 4-8 mm long, tomentose. Inflorescence axillary, flowers 4-merous, unisexual, pedicel 4-5 mm long, tomentose. Calyx 2 mm long, lobes 3 x 2 mm longer than tube, acute, keeled, hairy outside, persisting in fruit. Petals absent or very minute, ovate. Ovary 4-celled, style c. 1.5 mm, deeply 4-lobed, lobes 0.5 mm long. Fruit 4-5 mm long, obovoid, light brown, 3-4 grooved. Seeds 2-4.

Fl. Per:March-April.

Type: Baluchistan. La e 3690 (K).

Distribution: Pakistan, Afghanistan. India, Kashmir.