Perennial or annual, ± pubescent, 3-13 cm tall. Lower leaves smaller, ovate or spathulate; upper leaves larger, obovate-spathulate or lanceolate, obtuse, 2-18 mm long, 1-10 mm broad. Racemes terminal and lateral, + dense, 5-30 mm long. Flowers 4-6 mm long. Bracts deciduous. Sepals persistent, glabrous or + hairy; outer sepals unequal, broadly hyaline margined, upper twice as large as lower ones; inner sepals 3-5 mm long, 2-3 mm broad, enlarged in fruit, 3-nerved, veins nonanastomosing. Lateral petals equalling or shorter than keel; keel 1.5-3 mm, crested. Anthers sessile. Capsule obcordate, 3.5-6 mm long, 3.5-6 mm broad, glabrous, wing 1-2 mm. Seeds pubescent, strophiole 3-lobed, 2-appendiculate, appendages minute.

Fl.Per.: March-April.

Type: Described from Kirovabad in Caucasus.

Distribution: Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran, Turkey, Balkans, Caucasus.

A dwarf pernnial or annual in Baluchistan, Waziristan, drier parts of foot hills of the Punjab and N.W.F.P. Common throughout the country except Sind and Kashmir. 300-1220 m alt.s.m.