A. RADCLIFFE-SMITH

A more or less erect annual herb up to 60 cm. Stems glabrous or subglabrous. Petioles 2-3 mm long. Leaves very variable in shape and size, the blades of those of the main axis generally linear-oblong to linear and subacute to acute, of those of the lateral axes generally ovate or suborbicular and obtuse to rounded, 0.5-3 cm x 3-7 mm, remotely and coarsely denticulate, obscurely penninerved, evenly to sparingly pubescent or pilose. Stipules subulate, sometimes bifurcate, 1 mm long, glabrous, stramineous. Cyathia axillary, solitary, densely pubescent. Glands pectinately 3-5-lobed, the lobes linear, ochreous. Fruits shallowly trilobate, 4 x 3.5 mm, smooth, sparingly to evenly pubescent-pilose, pale green; styles generally persistent, undivided. Seeds oblong, 4 x 1.5 mm, verruculose, pale, grey, with a caruncle prolonged into 2 ligulate arms extending the length of the seed.

Fl. Per.: April.

Holotype: USSR, Turkmenia [Turcomania], Amu Darya R., Karelin & Kiriloff s.n. (LE).

Distribution: S. USSR (Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan), Iran, Afghanistan. On desert sand-dunes. 1640'/500 m. - 3280'/1000 m.

The Pakistan material is ± intermediate between the typical var. cheirolepis, with oblong to obovate leaves, and the var. heterophylla Boiss. (type from SE Iran, nr. Kerman, Bunge s.n.- G, holotype) with linear to ovate leaves. These varieties are therefore perhaps not of great taxomonic significance.