Annual to prennating herb, simple or sparsely branched, erect, (20-) 30-60 cm tall, usually densely canescent, especially the basal leaves, with simple and forked hairs (c. 1.5 mm long). Basal leaves ± rosulate, lyrate-pinnatifid to irregularly toothed, (15-) 30-70 mm long, (5-) 10-20 mm broad, stalked, often (2-) 4-6-jugate; terminal lobe ovate to suborbicular, lateral lobes narrowly ovate to oblong-linear, remotely dentate to entire. Racemes 10-20 (-30)-flowered, up to 20 cm long in fruit. Flowers c. 3 mm across, white, pinkish or pale lilac; pedicel 10-20 mm long in fruit, filiform, spreading. Sepals 2.5-3 mm long. Petals 3.5-4. 5 mm long, 1 mm broad. Stamens c. 2.5: 3 mm long; anthers c. 0.7 mm long. Siliquae linear, compressed, 40-80 mm long, 1 mm broad, often somewhat recurved, glabrous, obtuse; style usually 0.5 mm long with short, depressed stigma; valves 1-veined; septum not veined; seeds 20-30 (-35) in each locule, c. 1 mm long.

Fl. Per.: April-June.

Type: N.W. Himalaya, Kumaon, Wallich 4784 (K).

Distribution: N.W. Himalayas, Kashmir, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran and C. Asia.

A very variable and complex species with wide distribution in Asia. This species was originally described as a perennial but annual and biennial forms are quite common in our area; A. campestris Schulz is annual form of this species, probably confined to the arid hills of Baluchistan and N.W.F.P., while the type race is from comparatively wet Himalayan hills. The following 2 species, and W. Asian A. kneuckeri (Bornm.) Schulz, belong to a common ancestral stock as this species, and forms approaching to this species are not lacking. However, A. wallichii is distinguished by its dense, larger and smaller mixed hairs, with usually a simple tall stem, much longer than the basal leaves, and obtuse siliquae with a short style.