Christolea afghanica (K. H. Rechinger) K. H. Rechinger; C. crassifolia var. pamirica (Korshinsky) Korshinsky; C. incisa O. E. Schulz; C. pamirica Korshinsky; Ermania pamirica (Korshinsky) Ovczinnikov & Junussov; Koelzia afghanica K. H. Rechinger; Parrya ramosissima Franchet.

Herbs perennial, (8-)15-40(-50) cm tall; caudex woody, compactly branched, to 2.5 cm in diam. Stems branched, sometimes woody at base, hirsute with simple trichomes to 1.2 mm, rarely glabrous. Leaves all cauline, several to many; petiole (2-)5-12(-15) mm; leaf blade highly variable in shape, pubescence, or margin, usually obovate, spatulate, rhomboid, oblong, or elliptic, (0.8-)1.3-3.5(-5) × 0.4-1.6(-2.5) cm, leathery, densely to sparsely pubescent, rarely glabrous, base cuneate or attenuate, margin dentate or rarely incised along distal half, sometimes entire, apex acute or obtuse. Racemes several to many flowered. Fruiting pedicels 5-9(-12) mm, glabrous or sparsely puberulent, ascending. Sepals oblong, 3-4 × 1.5-2 mm, glabrous or sparsely puberulent. Petals white with purplish claws, 5-6.5 × 2-3 mm; claw 2.5-3.5 mm. Filaments white, median pairs 2.5-3 mm, lateral pair 1.5-2 mm; anthers oblong, 0.9-1.2 mm. Fruit linear, oblong, or lanceolate, 1.5-3(-3.5) cm × (2-)2.7-4(-4.5) mm, subappressed to rachis, straight, flattened; valves constricted between seeds, glabrous or puberulent, base obtuse, apex acute or subacuminate; style obsolete or to 0.4 mm. Seeds brown, oblong, 1.8-2.3 × 0.9-1.5 mm, laterally oriented. Fl. Jun-Sep, fr. Jul-Oct. 2n = 14*.

Alpine steppe, rocky slopes, bare slopes; 3500-4700 m. Qinghai, Xinjiang, Xizang [Afghanistan, Kashmir, Nepal, Pakistan, Tajikistan].