A. bracteatum (Girard) Boiss., Diagn. ser. 1(7):70 (1846). Figures 15 & 16.
Compactly pulvinate shrublet. Spring leaves to 30 x 3 mm, flattened; summer leaves narrowly lanceolate, 20-50 x 1.5-2.5 mm, piano-triquetrous, margins scabrid. Scapes simple, equalling to greatly exceeding leaves. Spike-lets 6-10, 2-5-flowered, 4-6-bracteate. Outer bract ovate to suborbicular, 8-12 mm, slightly exceeding calyx tube, with broad hyaline margin, herbaceous centre terminating in 1-2 aristae; first and second inner bracts broadly obovate, shorter than outer, hyaline except for base and vein; vein produced into a short recurved arista just above middle of bract; innermost bracts (1 per flower) smaller and hyaline. Calyx infundibular, tube sparsely pilose, limb ± truncate. Petals bright pink. Fl. 6-8. Rocky slopes, montane steppe, 1700-3100 m.
 1. Calyx purple; veins not excurrent  var. bracteatum
 1. Calyx white; veins ± excurrent  var. capitatum
var. capitatum (Sosn.) Bokhari in Notes R.B.G. Edinb. 30:300 (1970). Syn: A. capitatum Sosn. in Monit. Jard. Bot. Tiflis 11:11 (1915)! A. scabiosum Mobayen, Revis, Taxon. Acanthol. 298, f. 20 (1964)! Map 60.
Type: [Turkey A8 Erzurum] prov. Kars, distr. Oltu, inter pp. Karnawaz et Lespek, 8 vii 1911, Sosnowsky (holo. TBI, photo, E! iso. K!).
E. Anatolia. A8 Erzurum: Aras gorge, 1700 m, Tobey 2091! A9 Kars: Killik Da. W. of Akçay to Cumaçay road, 2250-2500 m, Watson et al. 3392! B9 Bitlis/Van: Pelli Da., 2500-3000 m, Edmondson 638! B9 Van: d. Çatak, Kavuşşahap Da., 3100 m, D. 23144 (type of A. scabiosum)! ibid., 2860 m, Watson et al. 3573!