Perennial, with prostrate-suberect, branched herb with thick rhizome. Stem simple, numerous, mostly from base, glabrous. Basal leaves indistinctly rosulate, 0.8-1.5 x 0.1-0.3 cm, linear, finely denticulate, acute, univeined. Cauline leaves 0.9-2.5 x 0.4-13 cm, ovate, denticulate, acuminate-apiculate, connate at base, thus forming a small tube. Inflorescence terminal, 1.5 flowered cymes. Flowers campanulate, subsessile-pedicellate, 3.5-4.5 cm long. Calyx, 1-2.75 cm long, tube longer than lobes, 1.10-2.0 cm long, lobes 0.5-1.3 x 0.15-0.75 cm, unequal, ovate-obovate or lanceolate, entire, acute, sinuses between lobes obtuse. Corolla 3.5-43 cm long, tube 2.0-3.5 cm long, lobes 0.5-1.3 x 0.3-0.6 cm, ovate, entire, acute, plicae 0.3-0.6 x 0.05-0.15 cm, entire, bibbed, acuminate. Stamens 5, filaments filiform, winged at base, anthers dorsifixed, ± sagittate. Ovary 0.3-0.7 x 0.1-0.2 cm, lanceolate, stipitate, style present, stigma bifid. Nectaries at base of ovary.

Type: In rupestribus et locis lapidosis inter Gounnedeh-Seursing et Sounnemeurgue, alt. 2600 m, Jacquemont 955 (P!).

A-7 Chitral, Oct. 1904, Barret s.n. (K), B-6 D ir: Lohir top, 5.10.1964, Salim s.n. (K), Lowari pass, Toppin 595 (K), D ir, 13.8.1969, M A. Khan 45 (RAW), B-7 Swat State: Batairi above Ushu, ± 9000 ft., R.R. Stewart & Rehman 25312 (BM, K), Hazara: Kaghan valley, 14400 ft., 22.8.1896, Inayat 19955 (K), Thithi Koh, 14.8.1899, Duthie 117 (K), Chail Sar to Ganda Kandas, 8500 ft., 17.9. 1958, Buret & Kazmi B 1244 (E), Musa ka Mussala, 13873 ft., 22.9.1955, Rathor 41 (RAW), B-8 Kashmir: Kuthnar, 9-10000 ft., 30.6.1952, R.R. Stewart & E. Nasir 23898 (RAW), Mt. opposite Pahlgam, 28.8.1945, R.R. Stewart 21795 (K), Pahlgam, ± 8000 ft., Sept. 1927, Houston 12921 (NA), ibid., 26.8.1924, Coventry 922 (K), Aru-Nafran, Lidder valley, ± 8500 ft., Sept . 1931, R.R. Stewart 12919 (K, NA), In the Sind or Lidder valley(?),Mrs. C. Radcliffe s.n. (K), Sonamarg, 9000 ft., 11.8.1922, R.R. Stewart 7303 & 7348 (K), id., 8000 ft., 4.11.1940, Ludlow & Sherriff 8292 (E), Kashmir, June 1923, Lady Donice s.n.(K), Chitta katha sar, 4500 m, 21-24, 8.1953, Schmid 669 (BM), Liddarwat, 10500 ft., 25.8.1956, Polunin 56 /490 (B, BM ,E), Kolohoi valley, c. 12000 ft., 27.8.1956, ibid. 56 / 580 (B, BM, E), N. facing side of valley leading to Mt. Kolohoi’s north glacier, 3350 m, 8.8.1983, Chadwell et al. 446 (E), Baltal to Nunner, 15-16, 10.1856, Schlagintweit 4807 (BM), Sonamarg, 8000 ft., 4.11.1940, Ludlow & Sherriff 8292 (BM), Amongst rocks near the Razbal Gali pass above Krishansar lake, NW of Sonamarg, 3900 m 10.9.1983, Chadwell et al. 441 (E), Gagangir, 11500 ft., 22.8.1940, Ludlow & Sherriff 7982 (BM, E), near Sinthan Pass, head of Bringhi Valley, 11000 ft., 9.9.1940, Ludlow & Sherriff 8200 (BM, E), Rajparyan sanctuary, 11000 ft., 24.8.1943, Ludlow & Sherriff 9368 (BM, E) Gagangir, 12000 ft., 22.8.1940, Ludlow & Shemff 7983 (BM), Rajparya valley, 11000 ft., 24.10.1940, Ludlow & Sherriff 8285 (BM, E), id., near Sinthan pass, 11000 ft., 9.10. 1939, Ludlow & Sherriff 7562 (E), West Lidde 10000 ft., Sept. & Oct. 1936, Miss G. Ward 226 (BM), Haramukh, 12000 ft 1.8.1940, Ludlow & Sherriff 7873 (BM), id., 5.11.1940, ibid. 8296 (BM, E), Shontoi valley, Kishenganga , 10000 ft., 19.8.1935, Ludlow & Sherriff 1515 (E), Kashmir, 11-12000 ft., Sept. 1929, Steans 75 (E).

Distribution: Endemic to Pakistan and Kashmir.

A Sino-Japanese element which is endemic to Himalayas in D ir, Hazara and Kashmir. The geographical limits are often confused because of its close affinities with a number of species which form a continuum in the geographical distribution in its eastern limits.

Nomenclatural problems of this species were discussed by H. Smith (Kew Bull. 15: 43-55.1965). Clarke (1883) intermingled this species with Gentlanodes stipitata Edgew., which is an entirely different taxon. Clarke probably not familiar with Gentianodes cachemirica Decne. [Gentianodes cachemirica (Decne.) Omer et al.]. Similarly, J.D. Hooker (Icons Pl. 15: 32, t. 1440. 1883) was not aware of the existence of Decaisne’s plant and described Gentianodes loderi

Hook. f., as a new species which later proved to be conspecific with Gentianodes cachemirica Decne. (for further details, see H. Smith, 1965).