A. vulgaris non L.: sensu Hook. f., Fl. Brit. Ind. 3: 325. 1881 pro parte; A. nuristanica Kitam., Fl. Afghan. 388. fig. 94. 1960.

Perennial, with solitary, erect, 60-125 cm tall, sparsely appressed-puberulous to nearly glabrous, branched above, angular-ridged stems from prostrate, ± woody, c. 1 cm thick rootstock. Leaves shortly petiolate to almost sessile, oblong to broadly ovate, 7-12 x 5-7 cm, green above with T-shaped sparse hairs, densely to sparsely greyish-green arachnoid pubescent beneath, bipinnatisect, primary segments 7-9, lanceolate or broadly lanceolate, 4-6 x 2-3.5 cm, sharp acute, secondary segments lanceolate, 1.5-2.5 cm x 4-6 mm, acute, entire or shallowly incised, mucronate; uppermost leaves in floral region undivided, very narrowly elliptic. Capitula numerous, heterogamous, shortly pedunculate to sessile, ovate, 2.5-3 x c. 2.5 mm, ± remote to approximate near branch apices, in a narrow to broad, 10-25 x 5-10 cm panicle with obliquely patent to ascending, up to 25 cm long branches. Involucre 3-4-seriate, phyllaries laxly imbricate, almost glabrous, all braodly membranous on margins and apices, outermost triangular-ovate, green in midrib region, c. 2 x 1.5 mm, ± acute, inner 2 series elliptic-ovate, 2.5-3 x 1.5-1.75 mm, obtuse, hyaline scarious. Receptacle glabrous, hemispherical. Florets 16-20, yellow, all fertile; marginal florets 6-8, with ± 1 mm long, narrow, 2-toothed, glandulose corolla tube and long exserted style branches; disc-florets 10-12, with c. 1.75 mm long, 5-toothed, reddish-tinged glandulose corolla tube. Cypselas brown, c. 1 mm long.

Fl. Per.: July-August.

Type: Kashmir, alt. 1825-2135 m, T. Thomson s.n. (K!).

Common between 1500 and 3000 m. along field borders in silty-clay moist or wet soils; Distribution: N. W. Himalayas, Hindu Kush (Pakistan, Kashmir, N E Afghanistan) and India (Himachal Pradesh).