Physolychnis gonosperma Ruprecht, Mém. Acad. Sci. Saint-Pétersbourg, sér. 7, 14(4): 41. 1869; Lychnis pumila Royle ex Bentham; Melandrium pumilum (Bentham) Walpers.

Herbs perennial, 6--20 cm. Roots robust, multicrowned. Stems sparsely caespitose or solitary, erect, simple, densely pubescent, apically glandular hairy. Basal leaves linear-oblanceolate, 3--6 cm × 4--8 mm, both surfaces pubescent, margin ciliate, base attenuate into petiole, apex obtuse or acute; cauline leaves 1--3 pairs, sessile, lanceolate, smaller. Flowers solitary, rarely 2 or 3, nutant. Pedicel 2--5 cm, densely glandular villous; bracts linear-lanceolate, sparsely ciliate. Calyx campanulate-globose, 1.3--1.5 cm × 7--10 mm, base rounded, villous and glandular hairy; longitudinal veins dark violet, not cohering at apex; calyx teeth triangular, margin membranous, apex obtuse. Androgynophore ca. 1 mm. Petals included or rarely slightly exserted beyond calyx, dark violet; claws cuneate, eciliate, with orbicular auricles; limbs emarginate or shallowly bifid; coronal scales inconspicuous. Stamens included; filaments glabrous. Styles included. Capsule ellipsoid-ovoid, 1--1.2 cm, 10-toothed. Seeds brown, orbicular, flat, 1.5--2 mm in diam. including wing. Fl. Jun--Jul, fr. Aug.

Alpine meadows; (1600--)3000--4400 m. Gansu, Hebei, Qinghai, Shanxi, Xinjiang, Xizang [C Asia].