Perennial undershrub with a stout root stock, very densely branched from the base, 30-50 cm tall, branches glabrous to glaucous, somewhat pale white. Leaves alternate, simple, exstipulate, subpetiolate, elliptic to elliptic lanceolate, (10-) 15-25 mm long, 3-7 mm broad, entire, attenuated at the base, acute at the apex, leathery textured. Inflorescence on short axillary or terminal branches. Involucral bracts 6-8, alternating with calyx lobes, foliaceous, linear-elliptic to linear, 4-6 mm long, less than 1 mm broad. Calyx deeply 5 partite (3-) 4 (-6) mm long, 2.5-3.5 mm broad, ovate, acute rarely very shortly acuminate, somewhat dentate-crenulate, membranous on the margin. Petals free 9-13 mm long, 3-4 (-5) mm broad, broadly elliptic, oblique, notched on one side, appendages somewhat obovate with more of less undulate margins, somewhat fimbriate at the apex, c.3 mm long, 1-1.5 mm broad. Stamens connate into 5 bundles, filaments 5-7 mm long, somewhat dilated, anthers oblong, 1 mm long. Ovary globose 3-4 mm long, 0.3-3.5 mm broad, styles 5, radiate, filiform 3-4 mm long. Capsule coriaceous, dehiscing by 5 vlaves, oblong acute to subacute, 7-8 mm long 34 mm broad. Seeds many, densely hairy all over with soft whitish brown hairs, oblong, 34 mm long.

Fl. Per.: March-April.

Lectotype: Labill. l.c. Pl. Syr, des. 2:17, t. 10.

Distribution: Syria, Israel, Egypt, Iraq, Iran, Turkey, Russia, Afghanistan and Pakistan.