A prostrate, dichotomously branched undershrub with greenish-hairy stems. Leaves in whorls of 4, unequal, sessile; lamina linear-oblong, 2-7 cm x 2-4 mm, coriaceous, hairy above, glabrous beneath except the midrib, finely apiculately acute, entire or spinose-dentate towards base, recurved. Inflorescence a strobilate spike, 2-9 x 1.5-2 cm, solitary or few just above the rootstock, hairy. Flowers purple or ± violet, c. 1.6 cm long; bracts ovate, 1.5-2.5 cm x 8-15 mm, densely hairy on both sides, 5-nerved, apex acuminate with a sharp, up to 1 cm long spine, margin with 7-9, recurved, soft hairy, 3-4 mm long spines; bracteoles linear-lanceolate, 1.2-1.5 cm long, densely soft hairy, ciliate on Calyx lobes softly hairy on both sides, outer lobes narrowly ovate, 1.4-1.7 cm x 5-6 mm, short acuminate, inner lobes nearly or less than half as long and broad as outer ones, acute. Corolla tube c. 4 mm long, brownish hairy, the solitary lip c. 1 cm long, 3-lobed, median lobe larger than the laterals. Anther thecae unequal, larger bearded on margin. Capsule ellipsoid, c. 8 mm long and 4 mm broad, compressed, shining brown, glabrous. Seeds compressed, ovoid, c. 4 mm long.

Fl. Per.: July-Nov.

Type: “In deserto Scindico”, Stocks (K).

Distribution: Endemic to Southern Pakistan (Sind, Baluchistan) and S.W. India (Rajastan, Rann of Kutch, Saurastra).

The plant serves as a good milk-increasing fodder for sheep, goats; and a cure for ear-ache. The seeds are boiled in milk and taken as a tonic.