Perennial, densely caespitose herbs; rootstock much branched, densely covered with withered leaves. Scapes up to 5 cm long in fruit, aphyllous. Basal leaves densely rosulate, oblong-spathulate, (2.5-) 4-6 (-10) mm long, 1-1.5 (-2) mm broad, obtuse, ± softly hairy, often densely so, with whitish, simple or branched hairs. Racemes 5-10-flowered, corymbose. Flowers c. 3.5 mm across, yellow; pedicels 3-5 mm long in fruit, spreading, glabrous. Sepals c. 2 mm long, 1 mm broad. Petals 3-3.5 mm long, c. 1.5 mm broad, apex obscurely emarginate. Stamens c. 2:2.5 mm long; anthers c. 0.4 mm long. Siliculae ovoid, 3-4 mm long, 2-2.5 mm broad, glabrous, acute, base ± rounded; style c. 0.5 mm long, with depressed capitate stigma; septum not veined; seeds 4-6 in each locule, c. 0.7 mm long, oblong-ovate, brown.

Fl.Per.: June-August.

Type: C. Asia, Buchara, Shungnan, Korschinsky (LE).

Distribution: Turkestan, Pamir-Alai, Pakistan, Afghanistan and N.W. Hima¬layas.

Easily recognized by its usually dense whitish tufts, but variable in size, compactness, leaves and hairiness. Draba pamirica (O. Fedtsc.) Pohle is a somewhat loose form of this species with slightly longer leaves.