Aellenia subaphylla (C.A.Mey.) Aellen subsp. charifii Aellen in Verh. Naturf. Ges. Basel 61: 179. 1950.

Shrub or subshrub 50-120 cm tall, hemispherical or ± erect, glabrous. Woody branches pale brown or beige, party greyish. Annual branches glaucous or green. Lower leaves semiterete, linear, gradually or abruptly pointed, 5-35 (-60) x 0.6-2 mm, basal with very narrow membranous margins, tufts of curly hairs present in axils; upper scale-like, or semiterete, linear-ovate. Flowers on lateral branches, 4-15 mm distant. Bracts of lower flowers semiterete, linear or scale-like triangular ovate, 1.7-6 (-14) x 1.1-3 mm; above scale-like, 0.9-2.5 x 1.5-3 mm. Bracteoles scale-like 1.5-2.8 x 2.6-4 mm, transversely ovate with membranous apex. Tepals 3-4.5 mm long. Anthers 1.8-3 mm long, appendages acutely rounded. Disc with small semi-circular interstaminal lobes. Style in fruit dome-shaped to conically ovoid. Stigmas apically truncate denticulate. Fruit 11-20 mm in diam. Tube dish-shaped, with straight or ± concave sides with prominent ridges; pits shallow, ovate to roundish. Wings ± below or nearly in the middle, partly bent downwards. Tepal lobes ± keeled or vaulted, forming a flat cone or dome, apically often spreading.

Fl. Per.: June-September.

Lectotype: Iran, Tehran: Lehmhügel zwischen dem Darya-yi Namak und dem Siah Kuh, 800 m, 26.11.1948, G. Charif & P. Aellen 289 (G-PAE). Isotypes (B, BR, G, GB, G-PAE, H, HBG, LD, M, NY, W).

Distribution: Iran, W and SW Afghanistan, Pakistan (Baluchistan).