Biennial (perennial), glabrous, green, erect, up to 30 cm high, branched herb. Stem branched from base or from above, canaliculate, smooth. Basal leaves 0.7-1.25 x 0.15-0.3 cm, lanceolate-oblanceolate, acute-acuminate, entire. Cauline leaves 0.7-1.5 x 0.2-0.45 cm, lanceolate, acuminate, entire, sessile. Inflorescence axillary raceme. Flowers 0.5-1.25 cm long on up to 1.25 cm long pedicel, tetra-pentamerous, campanulate, with axillary flowers much smaller than terminal flowers. Calyx lobes unequal, 4 equal and one unequal and bigger, smaller lobes: 0.3-0.5 x 0.075-0.125 (-0.15) cm, lanceolate, acuminate, entire, white rimmed, tube almost absent or so, bigger lobe: 0.5-0.75 x 0.15-0.25 cm, corolla 0.5-1.25 cm long, lobes equal, tube 0.7-1.2 cm long, lobes 0.15-0.3 x 0.1-0.3 cm, lanceolate-narrowly ovate, subacute-acute, entire, streaked. Stamens 5, filaments inserted near the sinuses of corolla lobes, anthers dark coloured, sagittate, lanceolate, two lobed. Nectaries at base of corolla throat. Ovary 0.7-1.25 x 0.15-0.3 cm, broadly lanceolate, subsessile, style present, stigma papillose, bifid. Capsule 0.8-1.4 x 02-0.4 cm, broadly lanceolate, subexserted, not many seeded. Seeds bigger than rest of the assemblage, globose-ovate, reddish brown, substriated.

Fl. Per.: July-September.

Type: Himalaya, Pir Panjohl (Panjahl?), Hugel (W!).

A-7 Chitral: Madaglasht, 9700 ft., July-August 1908, Toppin 579 (K), id., NE of Drosh, 11000 ft., 14.8.1958, Stainton 3134 (BM, E), Shishi Gol, 10500 ft., 27.7.1958, Bowes-Lyon 118 (BM, E), Gilgit: Nalter, 10000 ft., 17.7.1954, R.R. Stewart 26514 (BM, K), id., Sept. 1960, McVean s.n. (E), id., 9-10000 ft., 3.8.1892, Duthie 12338 (BM, O), 8 miles from Nomal on way to Nalter, 15.7.1977, Akhter & Qaiser 583 (KUH), Between Nalter and Nomal, 17.7.1974, Ghafoor & Butt 850 (KUH), Yengutsa glacier, south of Hispar village, 13000 ft., 23.8.1960, Polunin 6382 (E), Gilgit, Giles 94 (K), B-7 Swat: Utrot, 8-9000 ft., 21.7.1953, R.R. Stewart & Rehman 25243 (BM), id., ca. 2500 m, 23.8.1962, Rechinger 19588 (E), Kalam, ± 8000 ft., 21.8.1952, R.R. Stewart24660 (BM, W), Swat, Muontains west of Kalam, 25 miles above Bahrein, 20.8.1952, Rodin 5636 (K), Hazara: N. O. of Naran, 2600 m, Schmid 270 (BM), Kaghan valley, between Balakot and Babusar pass, Abel 126 (BM), Kaghan valley, Naran, 7800 ft., 26.6.1958, Burtt & Arshad Ali B-940 (E), 3 miles from Naran on way to Saiful muluk, Malik & Qaiser 352 (KUH), Mansehra, Ghook, 9.10.1977, Ajab & Afzal 1472 (K), B-8 Kashmir: Gurais, 8000 ft., 22.7.1876, Clarke 29487 A (K), id., 8000 ft., 22.7.1876, Clarke 29487 B (BM), Sonamarg, 11500 ft., 29.8.1876, Clarke 30804 A & C (K), id., 10000 ft., 19.7.1917, R.R. Stewart 6306 (K), id., 9000 ft., 1.9.1917, R.R. Stewart 3512 (K), id., Stewart 9779 a (K), id., 25.8.1876, Clarke 27201 A (K), id., 11500 ft.,29.8.1876, Clarke 30804 B (BM), Rotang pass, 10000 ft., 19.8.1864, Brandis 3665 (K), Bangla, 9000 ft., 24.7.1876, Clarke 29557 H (K), Lidder valley, near Tarin, 9-10000 ft., 29.7.1893, Duthie 13316 (BM, E, K), Astor, 7600 ft., Giles 579 (K), Baltal, Sind valley, 9500 ft., 30.7.1891, Gammie s.n. (K), id., 9000 ft., 14.7.1977, Stainton 7937 (E), Machuloi to Baltal, 7.9.1880, Young s.n. (BM), Kosturkut, 8 miles nw of Vishenser, 11000 ft., 6.9.1956, Polunin 56/692 (Bm, E), Vishanser, 12000 ft., 17.8.1940, Pinfold 364 (BM), Gumber nullah, Zoji La, 12000 ft., 25.8.1940, Ludlow & Sherriff 8003 (BM, E), Matyan, Ladakh road, 10500 ft., R.R. Stewart 9965 a (k), Rama valley, SW of Astor, 10500 ft., 30.7.1967, Landaster & Prescot TEL 1303 (BM), Baltistan: Shigar, nullah near Chashmal, 11.7.1978, Ajab & Abbasi 1490 (BM), Burji La, 9000 ft., 24.7.1876, Clarke 29557 (BM), Marpa nala, 11-12000 ft., 3.7.1892, Duthie s.n. (E), Himalaya, Jaeschke s.n. (W), Cachemyr, Jacquemont s.n (P).

Distribution: Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Nepal and Sikkim.

An uniregional element, belonging to Sino-Japanese region.