Annual-biennial, glabrous, green, up to 20 cm high, branched from base herb. Stem developed, each branch terminating into flower. Basal leaves rosulate, 0.7-1.5 x 0.15-0.5 cm, elliptic-lanceolate, entire, obtuse-subacute, cauline leaves few, 0.4-1.15 x 0.25-0.35 cm, elliptic-lanceolate, acute. Flowers solitary, pentamerous, borne on up to 5.0 cm long peduncles, flowers 0.4-0.75 cm long, campanulate. Calyx 5-lobed, lobes divided almost to the base, tube absent or almost so, lobes unequal, 2 pairs equal to one another, wh ereas fifth is largest, two smallest: 0.3-0.6 x 0.15-0.25 cm, narrowly lanceolate, entire , acute, parallel veined, the other two 0.4-0.65 x 0.15-0.3 cm, broadly lanceolate-narrowly ovate, entire, acute, parallel veined, the biggest: 0.45-0.8 x 0.175-0.4 cm, ovate, entire, acute, parallel veined. Corolla purplish blue, 0.4-0.75 cm long, 0.2-0.6 cm long, lobes 0.15-0.35 x 0.1-0.2 cm, ovate, entire, acute, fimbriate, fimbriae equal in length, subexserted, linear, acute. Stamens 5, filaments filiform, winged at base, adnate below the middle of corolla, anthers dorsifixed, 2-lobed, orbicular. Nectaries epipetalous. Capsule subexserted, 0.3-0.5 x 0.1-0.3 cm, lanceolate. Seeds numerous, globose, very finely reticulated.

Fl. & Fr. Per.: August

Type: In rupestribus jugo subalpinis prope terrem ten Tuchultau 1829. Turczaninow (Holo, Iso-LE, Photo!).

B-8 Kashmir: Sakti, Ladak, alt. 13000 ft., 4.8.1931, Koelz 2538 e (NY), Luderwas mt., Sonamarg, 13000 ft., 11.8.1928, R.R. Stewart 9874 a (NY), Haramukh, 1.8.1940, Ludlow & Shemff 7894 (BM).

Distribution: U.S.S.R., China, Pakistan, India and Tibet.

An Irano-Turanian element.

A herb of alpine meadows, gr owing at an elevation of 12-18000 ft.

A new record for Pakistan.