S. NAZIMUDDIN AND M. QAISER

Herba annua, prostrata vel scandens. Caulis tenuis, ± 1-1.5 mm diametro, quadrangularis, divaricatus, laxe ramosus, angulis minute aculeolatis. Folia 4-6-nata, sessilia, lineari-lanceolata, cuspidata vel aristata, 4-8 x 1-2.5 mm, interdum supra scabrida infra glabra, margine revoluta, ad costem et margine, scabrida. Inflorescentia axilaris, furcata, pedunculis 1-2 cm longis; pedicelli filiformes ± 3–5 mm longi in fructu acrescentes decurvati. Corolla alba, minuta. Fructus ± 2 mm longus, Gneis piliformibus immersis notatus.

Annual, prostrate or climbing herb. Stem slender, older stem c. 1-1.5 mm in diameter, quadrangular, angles minutely aculeolate, divaricately laxly branched. Leaves 4-6 in a whorl, 4–8 x 1–2.5 mm, sessile, linear–lanceolate, acute-cuspidate or aristate, margin revolute, midrib and margin scabrid, lateral nerves obscure, sometimes scabrid above, glabrous beneath. Inflorescence axillary, forked; peduncle 1-2 cm long, pedicel filiform, c. 3–5 mm, much enlarged and decurved in fruit. Corolla white, minute. Fruit c. 2 mm long, 2-2.5 mm across, covered with white sunken hair–like markings, mericarps not free.

Holotypus: Pakistan: Chitral, 6800 ft., along stream bed, 2.6.1977, F.B. Coughey 8441 (RAW).

Distribution: Endemic to Pakistan (Chitral).

Galium chitralensis Nazim. is closely related to Galium tenuissimum M. Bieb. in having quadrangular stem, 5 x 10 x 1-1.5 mm sessile leaves in a whorl of 4–6 with obscure lateral nerves, scabrid midrib and axillary inflorescence. However, the former can be distinguished from the latter by its 3 cm long dichotomously branched raceme, fruit 2-2.5 mm across with sunken hair like markings, mericarps not free; in Galium tenuissimum M. Bieb. the cymes are more than 3 cm long, laxly divaricately branched, fruit less than 1.5 mm across, smooth and mericarps are free.