A more or less erect much-branched villous annual herb usually c. 15-20 cm tall, but sometimes upto 30 or 60 cm with the 3-rayed pseudumbel forming the greater part of the plant. Petioles 2-6 mm. Leaf-blades all ovate to elliptic-ovate, 1-2 x 0.5-1.5 cm, obtuse at the apex, rounded or rounded-cuneate at the base, spinulose-denticulate, bright green. Stipules subulate, 0.25 mm long, glabrous, stramineous. Cyathia axillary, solitary. Glands pectinately 4-8-lobed, the lobes linear, ochraceous. Fruits shallowly trilobate, 5-5.5 x 6-6.5 mm, smooth, villous. Styles short, thickened, undivided. Seeds quadrangular-oblong, 4 x 2 x 1.5 mm, pustulate, greyish-white, with a shallowly conical caruncle.

Fl. & Fr. Per.: July.

Holotype: Syria, Aleppo, Russell s.n. (BM).

Distribution: N. Africa (Algeria), Cyprus, SW Asia from Turkey E. to Turkmenia and south to Sinai. In a variety of habitats outside Pakistan; ? 4900'/1490 m.