Shrubby, up to 60 cm tall, glabrous. Leaves stiff, divided into 3-5 spiny linear segments; segments up to 6 cm long, revolute forming a groove. Peduncles 10-15 cm long. Involucre of 5-7 linear, spiny bracts ,I-4 cm long. Rays numerous, up to 1 cm long, compact, pilose. Involucel of 4-5 spiny, linear bractlets. Outer flowers in an umbellet male, pedicellate; pedicels thick, cylindrical, pilose; central flower complete, sessile. Calyx teeth 5, linear, up to 1 mm long. Petals bilobed, white to purple. Ovary pilose; styles slender, 4-5 mm long. Fruit cylindrical to ellipsoid, c. 5 mm long, pilose; furrows 1-vittate; commissure 2-vittate.

Type: Muscat, Aucher 4559.

Distribution: Arabia, Iran to Afghanistan, W. Pakistan.

Lindley described the genus as having numerous vittae in the fruits. This does not, however, seem to be a constant character. In P. aucheriana the furrows are univittate; in P. glauca, a species from India, they are 3-vittate.