Annual-biennial, 6-25 (-40) cm long, erect, diffusely branched herb. Stem smooth, shiny, glabrous, canaliculate, branched from base or from middle. Basal leaves rosulate, 0.8-3.0 x 0.4-1.0 cm, oblanceolate-obovate, obtuse, entire, cauline leaves 1.0-3.0 (-3.5) x 0.4-0.8 cm, narrowly lanceolate-lanceolate or slightly ovate, acute, entire. Inflorescence terminal cymes. Flowers pentamerous, solitary, peduncles long, filiform, up to 8.0 cm long. Calyx tube 1 /3 the length of calyx, up to 0.6 cm long, lobes unequal, linear-narrowly lanceolate, bigger lobes 0.8-1.25 x 0.2-0.4 cm, smaller lobes 0.6=1.2 x 0.15-0.2 cm, all acute, margin scabrid, surface wrinkled. Corolla campanulate, pentamerous, 1.0-2.5 cm long, tube 1-2 cm long lobes 0.6-1.0 x 0.4-0.8 cm, narrowly obovate-obovate, purple streaked, obtuse-rounded, entire. Stamens versatile, filaments inserted below the middle, anthers reaching the sinuses of corolla lobes. Nectaries epipetalous and below the filaments, each lobe with two nectaries each. Ovary stipitate, 1.5-2.0 cm long, ovaloid-lanceolate, style very short, stigma short, not distinct. Capsule usually subinclud-ed, stipitate, 1.5-2.5 cm long. Seeds brownish, ovoid, 0.5-1.0 x 0.25-03 mm, reticulate.

Fl. & Fr.Per.: July-September (-November).

Type: In itenere versus Ladak, Tibet, Moorcroft (Wall. Catalogue no.4390, Holo-K!,Iso-BM!, E!).

B-7 Hazara: Kaghan valley, 9000 ft., 16.8.1896, Inayat 19953 (K), B-8 Kashmir: Bellew s.n. (K), id., Sept., 1874, W.S.A. ex Herb. Clarke 24171 B (BM), Cashmere, Young s.n. (BM), Sonamarg, 10000 ft., Sept. 1931, R.R. Stewart 12922 (K), id., 9000 ft., 31.8.1917, R.R.Stewart 3482 1/2 (K), id., August 1969, Mehra 5 (K), id., 8-9000 ft., 17.8.1893, Duthie 13599 (E, K), id., ± 9000 ft., Stewart 3550 1/2 (NY), id., 9000 ft., 4.11.1940, Ludlow & Sherriff 8289 (K), Sonamarg to Baltal, Sept., 1880, Young s.n. (BM), Kulan to Huyan, Young s.n. (BM), Dras, Road to Ladak, 9-10000 ft., 1.9.1922, R.R. Stewart 7546 (K), id., 10000 ft., 29.8.1940, R.R. Stewart 21164 (NY), Baltal, 9-11000 ft., 28.8.1922, Stewart 7547 (K),id., 9500 ft., 24.8.1940, Ludlow & Sherriff 7991 (BM), Topla, Sept., 1880, Young s.n. (BM), Kinlung to Phlangdanda, 15100 ft., Stockley 16 d (K), Lilam, Patu rages et Champs, 3000 m, 18-25.8.1953, Schmid 628 (BM, E), Ladak, Kangi nullah below Kangi, 12500 ft., 5.9.1931, Koelz 2812 (E, NY), Ladak, 10-12000 ped., Thomson s.n. (NY), Kangi La, Ladak, 1931, Koelz A-31 (NY), near Gurais, 8000 ft., 7.9.1893, Duthie 13996 (BM), Tilail, 9000 ft., 25.8.1876, Clarke 30740 A (BM), West Lidder, 12-14000 ft., Sept., 1936, Miss G. Ward 240 (BM), Sind valley, 8-9000 ft., 19.8.1893, Duthie 13653 (BM, E, K), Palgam, Aug., 1913, Mrs. Evershed s.n. (BM), Zojpal, Sept., 1913, ibid. s.n. (BM), loc. ignot., J. L. Stewart s.n. (E), Haram Pathri (between Sind & Tilel valley), 12000 ft., 18.8.1940, Pinfold 378 (BM), B-9 Kargil, Ladak rd., 8-12000 ped., 23.9.1849, Thomson s.n. (K), Baltic, Sind valley, 8-12000 ped., 28.9.1848, ibid., s.n. (K), Nichanai, 2.9.1956, Pohtnin 56/637 (B), Zoji La, 11000 ft., Mrs. Evershed s.n. (BM), Tsodzi pass down to Baltal, 14.10.1856, Schlagintweit 4829 (BM), Matai, up to Tsodzi pass, 14.10.1856, ibid. 6655 (BM), Namika La, 12000 ft., 21.9.1947, Schomburg 90 (BM).

Distribution: Afghanistan, Pakistan, Kashmir, India, Nepal and Tibet.

A Sino-Japanese element, whose western limits extends up to Afghanistan and eastern most limits goes up to Nepal. In north, it enters into Tibet.

Grows at an elevation of 8-15000 ft., in dense and wet grass lands.

A variable species particularly in branching pattern and type of inflorescence, but can be differentiated from its allies on the basis of broader corolla.