Main axis of inflorescences 2--20(--25) cm tall, ± verrucose, internodes 0.5--2 cm; sterile branches 0.1--1.5(--3) cm, shorter than scales to 6 X length of scales, patent, slender, straight, simple or shortly branched, often verrucose; bracts and first bractlet glabrous or partly (ca. 0.5 mm) minutely hispid. Calyx 5--12 mm; tube ca. 1.5 mm in diam.

Rocky slopes. N and NW Xinjiang [Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Russia].