Trichodesma incanum Bunge

Description based on material from Afghanistan. Reportedly collected from the Kurram valley at 2250 m by Aitchison. A distinct species in its dense pubescent parts, ovate-acuminate leaves and rough, rugose-tuberculate nutlets.

Branched perennial with dense white subapressed hairs. Lower cauline leaves 2-83 x 10-3.5 cm, elliptic-oblong to ovate, densely white-canescent, upper ones smaller in size. Inflorescence terminal, few-flowered. Bracts linear, 3-6 mm long. Pedicels 1-2 cm long, hairy. Calyx c. 15 mm long, up to 18 mm in fruit; lobes ovate-attenuate, densely pubescent. Corolla blue; tube 63-7.5 mm long, limb ± 22 mm broad; lobes ovate-acuminate. Anthers densely villous, awned, about anther size, glabrous. Nutlets c. 5 mm long, usually notched, rugose, tubercled on dorsal surface.

Distribution: Iraq, Iran, Turkestan, Afghanistan, Pakistan.

Fl. Per.: May-June.