Launaea polyclada (Boiss.) Burkill, Fl. pl. Blauch. 44. 1909. Zollikoferia polyclada Boiss., Fl. Orient. 3: 827. 1875.

Herbs, biennial or perennial; stems glabrous; branches shorter, terete, dichotomously branched, naked, elongate. Leaves spinous-toothed towards margins. Heads often solitary, ovate, erect, small, 10 - 20 flowered. Outer involucral bracts ovate or obovate, glabrous, white membranous towards margins; inner linear, linear-lanceolate or linear-oblong, obtuse, glabrous, finely white membranous towards margins. Ligules violet. Achenes strongly elliptic, abruptly thin, smooth, ribbed. Pappus snowy white, slender, simple.

Fl. & Fr. July - Nov.

Distrib. India: W. Himalayas on exposed moist slopes, 1000-3000 m. Jammu & Kashmir.

Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran and C.I.S.

Notes. Distribution of this species in Indian geographical boundary seems to be doubtful. There is no specimen available in any herbacia in India.