Crambe cordifolia Steven subsp. kotschyana (Boissier) Jafri; C. cordifolia var. kotschyana (Boissier) O. E. Schulz.

Herbs perennial, 0.5-1.8(-2.5) m tall, with somewhat fleshy roots. Stems simple at base, hirsute. Basal leaves with petioles 10-35 cm; leaf blade cordate-reniform, cordate, or ovate-orbicular, (10-)15-35 × 2-50 cm, densely hirsute abaxially especially along veins, thick, base cordate, margin coarsely toothed, apex acute. Cauline leaves similar to basal, much reduced in size upward. Infructescences large panicles. Fruiting pedicels slender, ascending, (1.5-)2-3.5(-4) cm. Sepals oblong, 2.5-4 × 1-1.5 mm, sparsely hirsute. Petals white, broadly obovate, 5-9(-11) × 3-4(-6) mm, apex rounded; claw 0.5-1 mm. Median filament pairs flattened, 3-4 mm, with a tooth 0.5-1 mm; lateral pair slender, toothless, 2-2.5 mm; anthers oblong, 0.7-1 mm. Basal fruit segment oblong, seedless, 2-2.5 mm; terminal segment globose, subcorky, 4.5-6.5 mm in diam., smooth, reticulate veined, glabrous; style absent. Seed pale brown, subglobose, 3-4 mm in diam. Fl. Mar-May, fr. May-Jun. 2n = 30.

The leaves and roots are eaten as vegetables.

Mountain slopes, stony hillsides, grassy foothills; 700-4000 m. Xinjiang, Xizang [Afghanistan, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan; SW Asia].