Biennial, erect, up to 50 cm high, simple (rarely branched) herb. Stem simple, sometimes weakly branched from base or above, canaliculate, glabrous, smooth and shining. Basal leaves rosulate, 1.0-4.0 x 0.4-1.0 cm, spathulate, obtuse, entire, deciduous at flowering. Cauline leaves very few, 0.8-1.75 x 0.2-0.75 cm, narrowly ovate, entire, acuminate. Uppermost leaves near flower bractiform. Inflorescence terminal or axillary. Flowers tetra-pentamerous, 0.5-1.4 cm long on 0.1-0.6 cm long pedicel, campanulate, axillary flowers small. Calyx lobes subequal in breadth, rarely unequal in length, 0.3-0.7 x 0.1-0.25 cm, ovate-obovate, acuminate, entire, marginate, white rimmed, tube almost absent. Corolla 0.5-1.4 cm long, lobes equal, tube 0.75-0.9 cm long, lobes 0.2-0.5 x 0.1-0.25 cm, ovate, acute-subacute, streaked. Stamens 5, filaments inserted near the sinuses of corolla lobes, filaments ciliately appendaged at base, anther dark coloured, sagittate, ovate, two lobed. Nectaries at base of corolla throat. Ovary 0.7-0.9 (-1.0) x 0.1-0 3 cm, broadly lanceolate-narrowly ovate, subsessile, style present, stigma papillose, bifid. Capsule 0.8-1.2 x 0.2-0.4 cm, subexserted, not many seeded. Seeds bigger than rest of assemblage, globose-ovate, reddish brown, substriated.

Fl. Per.: July-September.

Type: A native of Nipaul, Boyle (K!).

B-7 Hazara: Kaghan valley, 12400 ft., 20.7. 1896, Inayat 19944 a (K), id., 9000 ft., 22.7.1896, ibid. 19943 (K), Bibyali nila, Kagan, 22.7.1879, ibid. s.n. (W), Gali Masla, Siran Range, 8.8.1899, Duthie s.n. (K), B-8 Kashmir: Sind valley, 11500 ft., 3.9.1876, Clarke 31041 (K), id., 10000 ft., 3.9.1876, ibid. 30969 (BM), Pahlgam, 10000 ft., 30.7.1927, R.R. Stewart 9254 (K), id., 11000 ft., 12.8.1920, ibid. 5677 (K), Yamhar pass, ± 14000 ft., Sept. 1931, ibid. 12925 (K), Apharwat, 13000 ft., 27.8.1933, Venning K-78 (K), top of Apharwat, 27.8.1933, ibid. K-69 (K), Zur Nar, above Aru, Lidder valley, 11000 ft., 3.8.1945, R.R. Stewart 21564 (K), Gulmarg, 8500 ft., 3.8.1919, Rich 1214 (K), id., 10000 ft., August 1922, Barbour s.n. (BM), id., 8760 ft., 9.8.1956, Polunin 56/111 (BM,E), above Gulmarg, 9-10000 ft., 9.7.1892, Duthie s.n. (K), id., 9200 ft., Fuller 118 (K), Hirpur, Pir Panjal, 7000 ft., 17.8.1891, Gammie s.n. (K), Tragbol pass, ± 11000 ft., 2.8.1919, R.R. Stewart s.n. (K), Sonamarg, 11500 ft., 29.8.1876, Clarke 30826 A(K), id., ± 12000 ft., 16.8.1922, R.R. Stewart 7346 (K), id., 11500 ft., 29.8.1876, Clarke 30815 D (K), Sinthan pass, head of Bringhi valley, 11000 ft., 24.10. 1940, Ludlow & Sherriff 8282 (BM, E), Lidderwat, 10000 ft., Mrs. Evershed s.n. (BM), id., Sept. 1913, ibid. s.n. (BM), Nundkoi, 11500 ft., 14.8.1940, Pinfold 281 (BM), Srinagar, above Gulmarg, Apharwat mountain, 9.7.1978, Lancaster s.n. (BM), Bangar, Kishtwer Dist., 10000 ft., 1.8.1943, Ludlow & Sherriff 9283 (BM), Gagangir, 11500 ft., 22.8.1940, Ludlow & Sherriff 7969 (BM, E), Rajparyan sancuatry, 10500 ft., 22.8.1943, Ludlow & Sherriff 9297 (BM, E), Erin valley, near Bandapur, 10000 ft., 25.7.1940, Ludlow & Sherriff 7825 (BM), Haramukh, 12000 ft., 1.8.1940, Ludlow & Sherriff 7893 (BM, E), Marbut pass, 10000 ft., 15.9.1876, Clarke 31277 b (BM).

Distribution: Pakistan (Hazara, Kashmir), India, Nepal, Sikkim, Tibet and Bhutan.

A Sino-Japanese element, which sometimes extends into Irano-Turanian region.