Peter C. Hoch and Peter H. Raven

Erect perennial herb, forming fleshy elongate basal turions that leave thick brown scales at the base of the stem; stems 20-60 cm tall, simple or scarcely branched, strigillose lines decurrent from the margins of the petioles, subglabrous below, strigillose and some glandular pubescence above, increasing onto inflorescence, or pubescent throughout. Leaves lanceolate, to oblong in lower pairs, 3-6 x 1-1.5 cm, glabrous with strigillose margins and veins, entire below to denticulate above, subacute apex, attenuate to distinct petiole 2-4 mm long. Inflorescence suberect before anthesis to erect in older plants. Ovaries strigillose with some gland-tipped hairs. Sepals pilose, 2.5-3 mm long. Petals 4-6 mm long, purplish rose. Style 2-3 mm long. Stigma capitate, surrounded by anthers at anthesis. Capsules 5-6.5 (-8) cm long, pilose, on pedicels 0.8-2 cm long. Seeds 1-1.1 x 0.4-0.42 mm, coarse papillose, inconspicuous chalazal collar 0.02-0.04 mm long; coma 4-6 mm long, dingy white.

Lectotype: Kashmir, Baltal, 28 Sept 1848, Thomson s.n. (K).

Distribution: Western Himalaya from Kashmir to Punjab.

This species is poorly defined due to the paucity of collections. Mature specimens lacking basal perennating structures can be mistaken for E. royleanum, although E, rhynchospermum differs from that species by having fleshy turions, and a suberect inflorescence before anthesis. Fl. Per.: Jun-Sep. Fr. Per.: Jul-Sep.