Perennial herb, 30-70 (-130) cm high. Stems not much branched, ascending or prostrate, appressed pilose mixed with patent hairs. Leaves 15-40 x 3-5 mm, sessile, the lower leaves bigger, linear-oblong to oblanceolate, the upper smaller, lanceolate, attenuate, acute to acuminate, margin entire or sometimes undulate, leaves appressed pilose, with or without spreading hairs. Flowers 1-3, axillary, on .slender lateral branches. Bracts 5-8mm long, linear to lanceolate, acute. Pedicel up to 5 mm long, densely pilose. Sepals 5: mm long, densely pilose, upper portion green, lower pale-white, the outer sepals obovate, acute, the inner ovate to ovate-lanceolate, acuminate, basally convex. Corolla pink, 10-12 mm long. Stamens unequal. Ovary glabrous, style as long as the stigmas, glabrous. Capsule 4-5 mm long, seeds black, densely short pubescent.

Type: Orient, herb. de Jussieu (P).

Distribution: Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, USSR, SW & C. Asia.

The species has been collected from N. Waziristan, Datta Khel, 180 m, Blatter & Fernald 1405, cited by Stewart, Ann. Catalogue Vasc. Pl. W.Pak. & Kashm. 573.1972 and Rech. f., l.c. but I have not seen any material from our area. It grows between 500-2200 m, in sandy and calcereous soils, and should be found on the Afghan-Pak. border areas.