Perennial, root stock short, with thin stringy roots, up to 30 cm high green herb. Stem very small, up to 5.0 cm long or absent. Basal leaves 2.0-33 x 0.4-0.8 cm, oblong-linear, entire, cartilaginous, obtuse, sheathing and membranous at base, unnerved, cauline leaves 23-4.0 x 0.2-0.5 cm, oblong-linear, entire, cartilaginous, slightly reflexed, obtuse-acute, less sheathing than basal leaves. Inflorescence 1-4(-5) flowered cymes. Flowers campanulate, 3-4.5 cm long, calyx 1-2.0 cm long, tube ± half the length of lobes, lobes unequal, distichous, 2 bigger lobes 0.4-0.6 x 0.15-0.25 cm, lanceolate, entire, obtuse-subacute. Corolla 3.0-5.0 cm long, blue, showy and large, with purple or dark blue streaks, sometimes spotted, almost 2.5-33 cm long, lobes very small, inconspicuous, 0.25-0.10 x 0.2-0.4 cm, lanceolate-ovate, entire, obtuse, plicae very small, triangular, acute, slightly dentate. Stamens 5, filament adnate at middle of the corolla tube or slightly below, winged at base, anthers dorsifixed, 2-celled, sagittate. Ovary 1.75-3.0 x 0.25-0.4 (-0.6) cm, lanceolate, stalked, style distinct, stigma bibbed Nectaries at base of ovary. Fruit exserted and stalked, 2.25-3.5(-4.0) x 0.5-0.75 cm, lanceolate. Seeds numeruos, brown, globose, finely reticulated.

Fl. Per.: July-September.

Type: Himala, ad alt. ped. 16000-17000 ft., prope partum Mana, Edgeworth (K!).

B-8, 9 N. W. India: J.L.Stewart s.n. (E), Tibet occidentalis, 16000 ped., Thomson s.n. (0), Tibet: Rakas Tat, 16000 ft., Strachey & Winterbottom 17 (K), Kashmir: Ladakh, 18000 ft., Aug. 1934, Kohli 16 (K), Khardong La, Leh 15500 ft., 7.8.1941, Ludlow & Sheriff 8522 & 8543 (BM), Chang La, 16500 ft., 9.8.1931, Ludlow 839 (BM), Khardong La, 16500 ft., 20.8.1928, Ludlow 498 (BM), Kurgia, Zansker,16000 ft., 30.7.1961, Stainton 8396 (BM), Shyok valley, Lurten nala, 16000 ft., 16.8.1947, Schomburg 60 (BM).

Distribution: Pakistan, India, Nepal, Tibet, Bhutan, China.

An Irano-Turanian element extending eastwards to Nepal.

A perennial herb of mountain slopes, gr owing at an elevation of 9000-15000 ft.

Differs from var. algida in h aving calycine and corolla lobes obtuse and smaller calyx tube.