from the sinus to the tip. 2-6 cm. across, 5-7-palmati-partite to 45 - 78 in the inner, to 23 or less in the outer incisions, divisions broadly ovate-cuneate, 3- or (the outermost) 2-lobed to or beyond the middle, lobes narrow, sparingly crenate or inciso-crenate, crenae subobtuse, calloso-apiculate; cauline blades similar to the lower, but smaller, less divided, with narrower and longer lobes and more pubescent. Inflorescence a short (up to 8-9 cm.), few-flowered, usually loose raceme, or with a few slender, few-flowered, additional branches from the uppermost of the much reduced leaves, crispo-pubescent to tomentose; lowest bracts 5-3-partite, very narrow divisions, or like the upper entire, linear, as long as or longer than the pedicels, uppermost much reduced or suppressed; bracteoles, if present, minute; pedicels slender, lowest up to 2 cm. long, upper much shorter, erect in the mature state, more or less adpressed to the rhachis. Sepals pale or purplish blue or white or variegated, with saturated veins, more or less pubescent, overlapping at the base only in the fully open flowers; uppermost navicular, more or less beaked, obliquely erect, 12-20 mm. high, 15-25 mm. long (from the beak to the base), 4-7 mm. broad, obliquely clawed; lateral sepals oblique, broadly obovate or suborbicular, about 15 mm. long, 10-13 mm. broad; not or obscurely clawed, lower sepals deflexed, elliptic-oblong, or elliptic-obtuse, about 8 mm. long. Nectaries glabrous, extinguisher-shaped; claw very slender, 12-15 mm. long, leaning forward in the upper part, hood horizontal, or more or less deflexed, saccate, very obscure, top often widened and gibbous in front, lip 2-lobed, lobes often narrow and rather long. Filaments glabrous, very rarely with a few minute hairs, winged to the middle, wings gradually alternated or running into minute teeth. Carpels usually 5 (4 or 6), contiguous, oblong, abruptly contracted into the style, softly villous. Follicles contiguous or almost so, oblong, truncate at the top, 9-13 mm. long, softly hairy. Seeds brown, obpyramidal, 3-angled, obliquely truncate at the top, 2·5-3 mm. long, angles unequally winged, wings hollow, faces smooth.
General Properties:—On the authority of Col. Monro, the roots of the Alpine form, it appears, are eaten by the hillmen of Kanawar as a pleasant tonic, under the name of Atees (Stapf).
