Very delicate annual, 6-9 cm tall. Stems capillary, glabrous, yellowish, with spreading branches. Leaves 5-10 x 0.5-1 mm, linear, glabrous, apex acute, base attenuate, sessile. Bracts similar to leaves but smaller. Inflorescence a lax corymbose-panicle. Pedicels capillary. Calyx c. 3 mm, narrow, campanulate, acute or mucronate. Petals white, narrow, spotted pink (Schisckin, 1936, l.c.).

Fl. Per.: July-August.

Type: Described from Kharkov (iso. LE).

Distribution: Central Asia (Lake Balkhash area, Syr Darya); W. Siberia, N. Pakistan.

Occurs up to 3000 m. This differs from the European type variety in the narrower calyx and pink spotted petals. (Petals in var. muralis are pink with darker veins (Barkoudah & Chater, l.c.).