SHAHINA A. GHAZANFAR & YASIN J. NASIR

Perennial, up to 30 cm tall, with a branched woody stock. Stems simple or branched, ± erect, glabrous. Leaves 10-65 x 1-2 mm, linear, congested basally, fewer on the flowering stem and smaller above; glabrous, margin sparsely ciliate, apex acute to acuminate, midrib and margin thick. Flowers pink, solitary. Bracteoles 4, about ½ (-1) the calyx length, lanceolate, long acuminate. Calyx 30-38 mm, glabrous, contracted at the mouth; teeth 9-10 mm, lanceolate, acuminate, the tip ± spiny, margin scarious and finely ciliate. Petals c. 50 mm, limb exserted, ± entire or toothed, ebarbulate.

Fl. Per.: July-August.

Type: Kashmir Falconer 211 (K).

Distribution: Kashmir.

Not very common in our area, and restricted to the Upper Neelam valley. More common in Kashmir in the Dal Lake area. The length of the bracteoles is variable, some are almost as long as the calyces.