Erect perennial herb, woody and much branched at the base, intemodes elongated, ± 10 cm long, glabrous smooth, lower stem almost circular, upper 4-angled. Leaves 5-7 in a whorl, 20-30 x 6-12 mm, ovate acuminate, sessile; glabrous on both surfaces, obscurely trinerved from the base, midrib distinct, glabrous, margin shortly, retrorsely aculeate. Inflorescence axillary and terminal erne, 1-few flowered; bracts foliaceous, pedicel c. 3 mm long. Corolla yellowish white, rotate, 5-lobed, c. 6 mm in diameter; tube ± absent, lobes 1.5 mm long, ovate, apiculate. Stamens 5 filaments short, anthers ovate, ± 0.5 mm long. Fruit 4-5 mm in diameter, globose by the supression of one carpel, smooth, purplish black when ripe.
Fl. Per.: June-August.
Holotype: Chitral, Barum Gol, Shokor Shal ca. 3600 m., 18.7.1950, Per Wendelbo (0); Isotype (K, W).
Distribution: Central Asia Pamir Alai, Chinese Turkestan. Pakistan (Chitral).
In Pakistan, this Central Asian element is rather restricted to high mountains of Chitral only; grows at 3400-3800 m.
