A perennial herb forming ± compact cushions up to 20 cm tall. Rootstock woody; branches crowded together, ensheathed in the persistent remains of old leaves; leaves linear or linear-lanceolate, 20-40 x 3-5 mm, cauline ones smaller and narrower, entire to ± revolute, midrib prominent on undersurface, retrorsely hairy, longer spreading hairs stiff, up to 2.5 mm long, intermixed with shorter appressed ones. Inflorescence globular, 30-40 mm broad. Flowers bracteate, dimorphic; bracts linear. Calyx 10-13 mm long, 5-partite, hairy, lobes linear. Corolla creamy-white, tube 10-11 mm long, appressed hairy without, glabrous within, limb 3-4 mm broad. Lobes triangular-ovate, c. 1.5 mm long. Anthers c. 1.8 mm, subsessile. Style 2-fid, reaching the throat (in long-styled flowers) or the middle of the corolla tube (in short styled flowers). Stigmas 2, subclavate. Nutlets c. 4 mm long, ovoid, keeled, shiny.

Fl. Per.: May-June.

Type: Baluchistan: Zarghun, 9500', Lace 3759 (E).

Distribution: Afghanistan, Pakistan.