SAOOD OMER

Herba biennis vel perennis erecta glabra e basi ramosa. Caulis purpurascens vel rosaceus, glaber, canaliculatus, nitidus. Folia basalia rosulata, 15-2.5 x 0.75-1.4 cm, obovato-spathulata, integra, obtusa, 3-5-nervia, nervis parallelibus, folia caulina caulis principalis ramorumque quam ea ramulorum majora, 0.8-2.0(2.25) x 0.5-1.25 cm, elliptica usque late lanceolata, integra, obtuse acuta vel truncata, 3-5-nervia. Inflorescentia e terminalibus vel axillis disposita. Flores 0.5-1.5 cm longi campanulati pedicellati pentameri. Calyx inaequalis 0.75-1.25 cm longus, tubus lobis multo minor, 0.1-0.3 cm longus, lobi duo breviores 0.2-0.4 x 0.075-0.1 cm, lineares, acumi-.nati, scabridi, tres longiores 03-0.5 x 0.075-0.125 cm, lineares, acuminati, 0.4-0.75 cm longus, lobi 0.2-0.5 x 0.1-0.2 cm, lanceolati, acuminati, integri. Nectaria epipetala. Stamina 5, filamenta filiformia, infra medium tubi corollae inserta antherae sagittatae, ellipticae, varsatiles. Ovarium 0.4-0.7 x 0.1-0.2 lanceolatum in gynophoro multo reducto subsessile. Stigma sessile, prominens. Capsula 0.45-0.8 x 0.1-0.25 cm, elliptico-lanceolata, fere inclusa, polysperma. Semina ovalia, reticulata, minuta, ± alata.

Biennial-perennial, erect, glabrous, branched from base herb. Stem fish or pinkish, glabrous, canaliculate, shiny. Basal leaves rosulate, 1.5-x 0.75-1.4 cm, obovate-spathulate, entire, obtuse, 3-5 nerved, nerves parallel, cauline leaves of main stem and branches bigger than leaves of branches, 0.8-2.0 (2.25) x 0.5-1.25 cm, elliptic-broadly lanceolate, entire, obtuse-acute or tru ncate, 3-5 nerved. Infloresecnce in terminal branches or in 1-few flowered aggregate cymes. Flowers 0.5-1.5 cm long, campanulate, pedicellate, pentamerous. Calyx unequal, 0.75-1.25 cm long, tube much shorter than the lobes,0.1-0.3 cm long, 2 lobes shorter, 0.2-0.4 x 0.075-0.1 cm, linear, acuminate, scabrid, 3 longer lobes 0.3-0.5 x 0.075-0.125 cm, linear, acuminate, scabrid. Corolla 0.6-1.25 (-1.4) cm long, 0.4-0.75 cm long, lobes 0.2-0.5 x 0.1-0.2 cm, lanceolate, acuminate, entire. Nectaries epipetalous. Stamens 5, filaments filiform, attached below the middle, anthers saggitate, elliptic, versatile. Ovary 0.4-0.7 x 0.1-0.2 cm, lanceolate, subsessilegynophore, stigma sessile, prominent. Capsule 0.45-0.8 x 0.1-0.25 cm, elliptic-lanceolate, almost included, many seeded. Seeds oval, reticulate, minute, ± winged.

Type: Chitral, NE of Trichmir, 11000 ft., 5.7.1958, at edge of irrigation channel, corolla and stem pink, Stainton 2798 (BM!).

Distribution: Endemic to the type locality.

Closely related to Aloitis stoliczkae (Clarke) Omer et al., but differs on the basis of dense habit, basal leaves bigger than cauline leaves, stem and branches being pinkish-purple, corolla lobes acuminate and ovary subsessile to much reduced gynophore.

The new species is named in honour of (Late) Prof. H.Smith (Uppsala).