Up to 1.5 m tall shrub with 7-15 mm long spines. Leaves mostly large, up to 17 x 5.5 cm. Flowers 4.5-7 cm Flowers 4.5-7 cm long; bracteles 12-20 mm long. Sepals linear-lanceolate, (16-) 18-22 mm long, stiff appressed hairy in the middle. Corolla pubescent or glabrous externally. Anthers c. 5 mm or more long.

Lectotype: Prope Urbem Mangalore, Hohenacker 238b (K).

Distribution: S.E. Pakistan, coastal and subcoastal areas of W. India, Himalayan foothills and E. Punjab.

The authors have not examined any specimen of this subspecies from the Flora area. The specimens have been cited here after Wood, Hillcoat and Brummit (Kew Bull. 38: 437. 1983). Cook (Fl. Bomb. Pres. 2: 457. 1906) has mentioned Deesa, one of the above cited localities, in Indian Gujrat.

The existence of this subspecies in Pakistan seems doubtful for the exact collection site of the specimen present in herb. Royle (K) is not known.