Compact caespitose, cushion-like plants, 5-8 cm high, with thick, knotted, branched, woody stocks, covered with remains of old leaves. Leaves 7-10 mm long, narrowly linear, pubescent to ± glabrous, margin ciliate; fasciculate, sessile, apex ending in a yellowish spine. Flowers 8-15, shortly pedicellate or sessile, in globose heads. Bracts spiny. Calyx 5–6 mm, cylindrical, minutely white pubescent, teeth ovate, with hyaline margin, the apex lanceolate, spiny; nerves 5, protruding. Petals pink, fading white, 8-9 mm, oblong, limb retuse at the apex, exserted, claw narrow.

Fl. Per.: May-July.

Type: Hab. in regno Cabulica prope Rhuggah, Griffith (G, photo!).

Distribution: Afghanistan, W. Pakistan.

Common in the western areas of Pakistan from 1520-1830 m. During the flowering season the dense hummocks are covered with a mass of flowers. The plant grows compactly in the Kurram Agency, but at higher altitudes it forms laxer cushions (Aitchison, op. cit.).