Robust annual up to 50 cm tall, densely brown-pilose. Main stem thick, branching divaricately with the ultimate. branches slender. Leaves 10-70 x 2-17 mm, lanceolate, smaller above, sessile, apex acute, 3-5-veined, pilose, especially on the veins and margins. Inflorescence a lax panicle. Flowers solitary. Pedicel 25-30 mm, slender, glabrous. Calyx 6-7 mm, campanulate, pilose, ± glandular; teeth triangular, acute, ciliate; nerves 5, with whitish scarious intervals. Petals white to pale pink, 3-12 mm, linear oblong, emarginate at the apex. Capsule sligh exserted from the calyx. Seeds c. 1.5 mm, tuberculate; radicle prominent.

Fl. Per.: March-April. Fl. Per.: April

Type: Described from cultivated material at the Chelsea Physic Garden, London.

Distribution: S. W. Asia, Turkey, Iraq, Jordon, Caucasus, Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan.

In Pakistan found up to ± 1000 m.