Annual, 10-40 (-50) cm high. Stem erect, simple or branched mainly in its upper part, sulcate, glabrous or subglabrous. Leaves ovate in outline, finely dissected into linear lobes, as segments of the first or the third order, which are 1-1.5 mm wide, lower leaves petiolate, upper sessile. Flowers 10-25 (-30) mm in diameter, terminal on the main and lateral branches. Sepals ± membranous, glabrous, ovate to oblong. Petals 1½ to twice as long as sepals, oblong-lanceolate to obovate-oblong, brick-red and with black basal patches, rarely yellow or white. Achenes in a dense oblong to cylindrical spike, 4-7 mm long.

Fl. Per.: March-April.

Lectotype: Adonis fl. minore alb, Basal inter septes Bauhin (BAS).

B-7 Swat: Khawaja Khela, Shaukat Ali 26147 (RAW), near Mingora, R.R. Stewart 27462 (RAW), Hazara, Duthie 19081 (RAW), C-6 Kurram: Parachinar, A. Rahman 25888 (RAW), id., R.R. Stewart 29012 (RAW), Waziristan: C-5 Kaniguram, 6500', Duthie 15745 (RAW), C-7 Attock: Cambellpur, R.R. Stewart 9352 (RAW), Islamabad & Rawalpindi: Saidpur, 30.3.1939, R.R. Stewart s.n. (RAW), Baluchistan: D-4 Kalat, 12.4.1956, Forester, s.n. (RAW), Ziarat, R.R. Stewart 571 (RAW), id., 7.5.1957, E. Nasir s.n. (RAW), Hanna, M.A. Siddiqi 1734 (RAW), Mastung, M.A. Siddiqi 1975 (RAW), Quetta, V. Parkash 16418 (RAW), Urak, M. Qaiser & A. Ghafoor 1357 (KUH).

Distribution: C. & E. Europe, Mediterranean region to Pakistan and W. Himalaya, Kashmir, S. Siberia.

Usually a weed in agricultural areas, present in all kinds of habitats influenced by human activities, but lacking in high mountainous areas. Also common under semi-desertic conditions. Variable as to the flower size.