Earlier was regarded as a subspecies of C. pallasii. It has narrow wiry leaves and starry flowers, typically in shades of wine purple but sometimes lighter. Needs a bulb frame or alpine house to show its best. Original plants were collected P.&P. Watt, near Gulnar at altitude of 500 m. It is local race with deeper coloured, red-purple flowers and paler, less conspicuous style branches. Offered are seedlings from original stock so can be something variable in colour.