Annual-biennial, 10-35(-40) cm high, erect, glabrous, branched from base or unbranched herb. Stem smooth, canaliculate, ridged. Basal leaves smaller than cauline leaves, 1.75-3.0 x 0.2-0.8 cm, ovate-obovate, acute, entire, cauline leaves 1.0-4.0 x 0.2-1.5 cm, ovate lanceolate-ovate, acute, entire with slightly wavy margin, the two terminal enveloping the inflorescence. Inflorescence in terminal branches or in axils in 1-few flowered aggregate cymes. Flowers pentamerous, sometimes lower flowers tetramerous, sessile-pedicellate, 1-2 cm long, campanulate. Calyx unequal, 5-lobed, 2-lobes much shorter than the 3 longer lobes, 2 smaller lobes equal, the rest three much equal, calyx reaching almost the half way of the corolla, 0.6-1.0 cm, calyx tube very small, one third the length of the calyx, 0.1-0.4 cm long, lobes: 2 shorter 0.15-0.3 x 0.04-0.08 cm, linear, acute-acuminate, margin scabrid, 3 longer 0.4-0.8(-1.0) x 0.06-0.1 cm, linear, acute-acuminate, margin scabrid. Corolla 1-2.5 (-3.0) cm long, campanulate, pink, light blue and white upon maturity, tube more than half the size of the lobes, 0.8-1.5 cm long, lobes 0.4-0.8 x 0.2-0 5 cm, ovate, mucronate, entire with dark pink coloured veins running down. Stamens 5, alternating with corolla lobes, versatile, filaments long, filiform, inserted at the base of tube, anthers 2-lobed, dorsifixed, slightly sagittate. One nectary each at the base of corolla lobe. Ovary 1-1.5 cm long, lanceolate-elliptic, stipitate, style short, stigma prominent. Capsule subexserted, lanceolate, up to 2.0 cm long. Seeds brown, oval, minute, reticulate.

Fl. Per: August.

Type: In Himalaya boreali-occidentali ad 14000 ped. alt., Stoliczka (CAL).

Presumably the type of Aloitis stoliczkae (Clarke) Omer et al. is untraceable.

A-7 Chitral: Yarkhun, 10500 ft., 16.6.1958, Bowes-Lyon 926 (BM), Zondrangram, about 20 miles from Nushko on way to Trichmir mountain, 20.8.1981, Malik & Nazimuddin 1610 (KUH), Godai, Gilgit road, ± 9000 ft., 24.8.1939, R.R. & I.D. Stewart 18935 (NA), B-8 Kashmir: Matayam, Ladak, 10500 ft., August 1928, R.R. Stewart 9953 a (K, NA), Karakorum, 12000 ft., 11.8.1876, Clarke 30416 A & B (K), Between Skardo and Dras, 26.9.1848, Thomson s.n. (K).

Distribution: Central Asia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, China and Tibet.

An Irano-Turanian element.

Grows near water channel in damp swampy land at an elevation of 8-14000 ft.