Acantholimon calocephalum Aitch. & Hemsl.

Densely tufted shrub, branches short, densely leafy. Leaves planotriquetrous, spreading, minutely scabrid-margined. Scape simple, shorter than the leaves. Inflorescence a spicate-head. Spikelets 8-12, 2-4-flowered but often 3-flowered, 4-5-bracteate. Outer bract ovate to orbicular, coria¬ceous, narrowly scarious-margined, mucronate; first inner bract similar to the outer but 1.5 times longer than the outer bract, purple tinted; other inner bracts obovate-ellipitc, scarious except for the nerves, shorter than the calyx. Calyx funnel-shaped, glabrous, tube slender; limb broad, obscurely 5-lobed.

Distribution: Afghanistan and Kurram Valley in W. Pakistan.

Fl. Per.: August-October.