Plants up to 50 cm tall, branched. Stems and branches striate, scabrid, covered with short curved hairs. Cauline leaves pinnate; segments spiny; leaves at the ends of branches reduced to spines. Peducles 2-8 cm long, lateral and terminal umbels numerous. Involucre of 4-5 subulate, spiny, pubescent bracts, 5-10 mm long. Rays 3-5, stout, deflexed, pubescent. Involucel of several curved, spiny, pubescent bractlets. Male flowers pedicellate, pubescent; calyx teeth pro¬minent, unequal. Bisexual flower solitary in an umbellet, sessile, surrounded by the enlarged woody receptacle and the pedicels of the male flowers. Petals hispid. Fruit c. 1 cm long, slightly narrowed at the apex; upper part pubescent; stylopodium conical; styles straight, 3 mm long; fruit ridges obscure; pericarp thin; furrows 1-vittate; vittae large; commissure 2-vittate. Inner seed face deeply grooved.

Type: Afghanistan, Darwash hills, near Kabul, Gilli, 14.7.1950 (W).

Distribution: Afghanistan, W. Pakistan.

This is not common.