Shrub up to 5 m high. Bark of branchlets silver-grey, lenticellate. Leaves up to 9 cm long and 5 cm broad, entire, elliptic-oblong, shortly acuminate, base acute, coriaceous, dark green and glabrous above, whitish beneath, slightly pubescent when young; venation prominent, closed. Flowers scented, in dense thyrsoid panicles usually arising from a terminal bud, with basal leaves. Corolla white or purple, tube 1 cm long, lobes shorter, valvate, linear-oblong, hooded at the tips. Anthers about one-half exserted. Capsule 15 mm long, 4 mm broad, cylindrical, acute, slightly curved, opening into 2 halves.

Fl. Per.: May-July. Fruit: September-October.

Type: “Kemaon versus Himalayam”. Wallich 2831 (K, isotype).

Distribution: Western Himalaya, from Pakistan to Kumaon.

Common in the hills up to the subalpine zone, 2000--3000 m, all over the northern parts of Pakistan. Sometimes cultivated in gardens for flowers, leaves used as fodder for goats.